Russia has been accused of disseminating "disinformation" during the Israel-Hamas conflict in the Middle East, according to Microsoft President Brad Smith. Speaking at an international peace forum in Paris, Smith highlighted the use of smart technology, including Artificial Intelligence, to detect and combat misleading information. He mentioned the effectiveness in identifying Russian campaigns, citing instances such as discouraging COVID-19 vaccine uptake and spreading disinformation in the current Middle East crisis.
Smith outlined three options for platforms dealing with disinformation: taking no action, deleting fake content, or marking it as altered. However, he pointed to a lack of consensus on the appropriate response in these situations.
Since the beginning of Hamas attacks on Israel in October, Israel has responded with heavy bombardment of Gaza and the deployment of ground troops, resulting in a significant loss of life, particularly among civilians.
In the context of combating political disinformation, Microsoft has unveiled new plans to address high-tech risks, including those involving AI. Smith and Teresa Hutson from Microsoft anticipate that by 2024, some countries might employ technology to interfere in elections using a combination of traditional methods and AI. Microsoft's upcoming tools include allowing candidates to add "credentials" to their images or videos, serving as a mark of authenticity and protection against tampering.
The watermarking credentials aim to empower individuals or organizations to assert the origin of content and detect alterations made after credential creation. Microsoft also plans to establish a team to support election campaigns in dealing with AI threats, encompassing efforts to counter cyber influence campaigns and prevent the spread of fake images.
