Microsoft has revealed that Iran is stepping up its online activities, in an effort to influence the upcoming US elections. One notable incident was a phishing attack targeting a senior presidential crusade official. The tech giant warns that Iran has also created fake news sites and posed as activists, in an effort to agitate the department and influence the electorate in swing states.
In its latest risk report, Microsoft describes how Iranian tactics have evolved since the last U. S. election. The report goes beyond U. S. intelligence revelations by detailing express movements made through Iranian groups. Although Iran’s draft to the UN has denied any intention to interfere, evidence suggests otherwise, adding attempts at retaliation against the Trump administration’s moves.
Microsoft’s findings also shed light on the activities of Russia and China, which are exploiting American political polarization to achieve their own goals. Companies are developing fears about using generative AI to produce misleading content that could magnify the impact of foreign influence operations in the run-up to the November election.
(With agencies. )