Chinese AI campaign accuses US government of Kentucky train derailment cover-up

The derailment of a train carrying molten sulphur in Kentucky, USA, resulted in an opportunistic, AI-powered disinformation campaign by a group associated with the Chinese government. Approximately one week after the derailment of the train, China's Storm-1376 group (also known as Spamouflage and Dragonbridge launched a social media-based campaign that amplified the derailment. It also spread anti-US government conspiracy theories and highlighted political divisions among US voters with the objective of encouraging mistrust of and disillusionment with the US government. Storm-1376 urged audiences to consider whether the US government may have caused the derailment and is 'deliberately hiding something.' Some messages even likened the derailment to 9/11 and Pearl Harbor cover-up theories. Whilst it is unclear how successful the campaign was in meeting its objectives, the campaign is seen as an example of how AI can be misused for geo-political purposes. System 🤖 Unknown Operator: Government of China; Dragonbridge; Spamouflage; Storm 1376 Developer: Country: China; USA Sector: Go vt - foreign; Transport/logistics Purpose: Scare/confuse/destabalise Technology: Issue: Mis/disinformation; Tr ansparency Investigations, assessments, audits 🧐 Microsoft (2024). China tests US voter fault lines and ramps AI content to boost its geopolitical interests Microsoft (2024). East Asia threat actors employ unique methods (pdf)

Date it happened

2023-11-01

Organisation involved

Government of China; Spamouflage; Storm 1376

This is a record of what was reported, not a finding that anyone broke the law. If it names your organisation and you believe it is wrong, the corrections process is free and open to everyone.