As the United Kingdom (UK) gears up for its 2024 elections, cybersecurity experts are warning of an impending wave of state-sponsored cyberattacks and AI-generated disinformation.
What Happened: The UK is expected to face a significant increase in cyber threats in the run-up to the 2024 elections, according to a CNBC report. The threats are not just limited to state-backed cyberattacks but also include AI deepfakes, predicted to be more widespread this year due to advancements in artificial intelligence.
These elections, which include local elections on May 2 and a general election later in the year, are likely to be targeted by malicious actors. These actors are expected to use AI-powered identity-based attacks such as phishing, social engineering, ransomware, and supply chain compromises, according to Todd McKinnon, CEO of identity security firm Okta.
AI and bot-driven content are also predicted to be used to spread misinformation on a larger scale than in previous election cycles. The cybersecurity community has called for increased awareness of this type of AI-generated misinformation and international cooperation to mitigate the risk of such malicious activity.
Adam Meyers, head of counter-adversary operations for cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike, highlighted AI-powered disinformation as a top risk for the 2024 elections. He said, "When you start looking at how hostile nation states like Russia or China or Iran can leverage generative AI and some of the newer technology to craft messages and to use deep fakes to create a story or a narrative that is compelling for people to accept, especially when people already have this kind of confirmation bias, it's extremely dangerous."
As the UK approaches its elections, local elections will serve as a key test for digital giants like Facebook-owner Meta, Google, and TikTok to keep their platforms free of misinformation. Cybersecurity experts warn that it’s becoming increasingly difficult to discern what’s real, but there can be signs that content is digitally manipulated.
Why It Matters: This anticipated surge in cyber threats isn’t without precedent. In recent years, multiple nations have faced similar threats. For instance, Australia and New Zealand accused China of orchestrating cyberattacks on their democratic institutions in March.
Similarly, a report in June revealed North Korea’s focus on cyber-espionage and information collection.
Moreover, Microsoft disrupted cyberattacks from Russian military spies targeting Ukrainian media in April 2022. The company also faced criticism for its information security culture following a China-linked cyberattack in 2023.
These incidents underscore the global nature of cyber threats and the need for increased vigilance and cooperation to ensure the integrity of democratic processes.
Image Via Shutterstock
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