New Report Reveals Chinese and Iranian Deepfake Operations During 2020 US Election

Operatives from China and Iran created fake content using AI to influence US voters during the 2020 election campaign, according to current and former US officials briefed by CNN.

Although the deepfake audio and video were not shared publicly by Chinese and Iranian operatives, this newly revealed intelligence highlights US officials' concerns from four years ago about foreign powers spreading misinformation about the voting process.

The National Security Agency obtained intelligence on China and Iran's abilities to create deepfakes, according to a source.

US officials are now more worried about the upcoming presidential election, as it is easier to create deepfake audio and video. They are concerned that foreign actors could use artificial intelligence to deceive voters.

During an exercise at the White House Situation Room last December, senior US officials grappled with a scenario for the upcoming 2024 election. The scenario involved Chinese operatives creating a fake AI-generated video showing a Senate candidate destroying ballots, as reported earlier by CNN.

At a recent briefing, FBI officials cautioned that AI technology is making it easier for foreign countries to spread disinformation during elections.

The sources mentioned that it is not clear what the deepfakes created by Chinese and Iranian operatives in 2020 depicted, or why they were not used during the election.

Some US officials who examined the intelligence at that time were not impressed. They thought that China and Iran did not have the ability to effectively use deepfakes to significantly influence the outcome of the 2020 presidential election. This information was shared by a former senior US official with CNN.

The technology needs to be top-notch, according to the former official. He believes it wasn't up to par. Additionally, having a willingness to take risks is crucial. While China may not have it, Iran might.

It's important to stay vigilant and watch out for potential threats from adversaries.

The former senior official mentioned that the NSA is still gathering information on foreign enemies who are creating deepfakes. This is a concern for US elections, especially with the significant advancements in technology over the past four years. In 2020, there was no user-friendly large language model like ChatGPT available.

CNN has reached out to the NSA for a response.

US officials have been closely monitoring the progress in AI and deepfake technology made by countries like China, Iran, and Russia since the 2020 election. Despite having access to this intelligence, using it effectively within the US continues to be a difficult task, as stated by a former official.

Ukrainian servicemen fire a M777 howitzer toward Russian troops near a front line in the Donetsk region, Ukraine on May 1, 2024. FBI officials are concerned that President Joe Biden's backing of Ukraine may lead Russia to take more risks in interfering in the 2024 presidential election.

Ukrainian soldiers are seen firing a M777 howitzer at Russian troops near the front line in Donetsk, Ukraine on May 1, 2024. FBI officials are worried that President Joe Biden's support for Ukraine could prompt Russia to escalate its interference in the upcoming 2024 presidential election.

Valentyn Ogirenko/Reuters

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"The challenge is how fast we can detect unusual activities and spread that information quickly across the United States," explained a former official to CNN. The question remains whether we are staying ahead of potential adversaries operating within the US.

During a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on Wednesday, the topic of deepfakes and foreign influence is expected to be discussed. Lawmakers will have the chance to question the director of national intelligence and other senior officials about foreign threats to elections.

Iranian government operatives attempted to influence voters in 2020 by pretending to be the far-right Proud Boys group and sharing a fake video of a US voter registration database hack, as reported by US prosecutors.

According to a source familiar with the intelligence, the Iranians imitated the Proud Boys but did not use deepfakes, indicating a possible lack of confidence in their capabilities or a lack of clear internal guidance.

Lost in translation

For foreign influence operations to be effective, they also need to resonate with the American public, something China has struggled with, the former senior US official said.

The former official believes that the piece is clearly a cultural one. They mentioned that there is a lack of understanding in addressing divisive issues or how to manipulate them effectively, unlike the Russians.

According to Lee Foster, an expert in tracking foreign influence operations online, generative AI has made foreign influence actors more efficient in producing content. However, there is no evidence to suggest that it has made them or their campaigns more effective.

"According to Foster, a co-founder of AI security firm Aspect Labs, Generative AI has not yet addressed the main challenge faced by actors: distribution. Actors have no trouble creating content, but getting it seen by the right audience on a large scale remains a major obstacle that AI has not been able to solve.

Experts, including Foster, have warned against overstating the influence of foreign operations, especially those utilizing AI, as it ultimately serves the interests of the propagandists."

Disinformation in the US

But the US remains fertile ground for conspiracy theories, whether domestic or foreign in origin.

Nearly 70% of Republicans and Republican-leaners do not believe that President Joe Biden's election win in 2020 was legitimate, as per a CNN poll from August.

In addition, a recent survey by the Pew Research Center shows that trust in government institutions is at an all-time low, with only 16% of the public stating that they trust the federal government always or most of the time.

The upcoming 2024 US election will provide fresh chances for foreign influence operations. There is a lot at stake regarding US military aid to Ukraine, as Democrats mostly support President Biden's backing of Ukraine, while some prominent Republicans, like former President Donald Trump, are stepping back from foreign aid.

According to a senior FBI official, there is concern among FBI officials that the conflict in Ukraine and US support for Kyiv could serve as a motivating factor for the Russians to engage in interference or influence operations targeting the US election.

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