The upcoming national election in Britain faces potential threats from artificial intelligence, as warned by a British security firm. The firm highlighted the escalating challenge of tracking cyberattacks orchestrated by adversarial nations and their proxies.
The National Cyber Security Center reported that “state-aligned actors have emerged as a new computer threat targeting critical national infrastructure such as electricity, water, and internet facilities.” This division of the British cyberespionage organization GCHQ expressed concerns about the increasing activities of “state-aligned actors sympathetic to Russia’s actions in Ukraine, primarily driven by intellectual motivations rather than financial incentives.”
The annual review emphasized the disruptive activities of “Russian speech criminals engaging in ransom attacks against American companies” and “China state-affiliated digital actors pursuing corporate objectives that jeopardize U.K. interests’ security and stability.” The report underscored the persistent and significant threat posed by states and state-affiliated groups.
Furthermore, the report labeled China’s technological advancement as a major security issue for the U.K., aligning with alerts issued by Britain’s intelligence agencies MI5 and MI6. Failure to enhance resilience and capabilities could result in China dominating cyberspace.
With a U.K. federal election slated for January 2025, concerns were raised about the risks associated with rapidly evolving AI systems. The center warned that advanced technologies like algorithmic videos and “hyper-realistic bots” could facilitate the dissemination of misinformation during the election campaign. Despite this, the report noted that the traditional voting system in Britain, utilizing pencil and paper, presents challenges for hackers attempting to manipulate the electoral process.
