UMNO calls for probe into AI operation targeting Malaysian voters
UMNO has called for an investigation into an alleged election-manipulation operation targeting Malaysian voters, after US AI company Anthropic said it had disrupted a network of about 1,000 fake X accounts and other tools designed to influence politi...
According to a report by Anthropic, an alleged election manipulation operation targeting Malaysian voters was discovered, involving about 1,000 fake X accounts, a fabricated news site, and voter-targeting tools. UMNO information chief Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said called for an investigation into the operation, urging authorities to identify those behind it, its financing, and the interests involved.
Anthropic's report linked the operation to a commercial election-manipulation platform, operated using Anthropic's Claude AI models, and tied it to an Istanbul-based company called BBS Bilisim Teknolojileri. While there was no evidence that the operation altered election results or voters' political stances, Azalina emphasized the need for serious attention to the allegations and stressed that the law should be equally enforced regardless of political affiliation.
She also cautioned Malaysians against mistaking social media metrics for genuine public opinion and advised caution regarding fabricated pages that could resemble legitimate news sources. The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) stated they would review Anthropic's report and seek further information from relevant parties, clarifying that such activities do not fall within their mandate.
Azalina also highlighted UMNO's history of facing negative attacks and emphasized the importance of protecting Malaysia's democracy from manipulation and foreign interference.
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