Microsoft has revealed that Iran is expanding its online activities, in an attempt to influence the upcoming US elections. One notable incident involved a phishing attack targeting a senior official of the presidential crusade. The tech giant warns that Iran has also created fake news sites and posed as activists, with the aim of waking up the department and influencing 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 US political polarization to achieve their own goals. The company noted growing fears about the use of generative AI to produce misleading content, which could simply magnify the effect of foreign influence operations in the run-up to the November election.
(With agencies. )