"Many comments don't mean many people": Azalina cautions against AI perception attacks
Malaysian politician Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said has warned that social media comment sections are increasingly susceptible to manipulation by AI-powered bots. She urged the public to be skeptical of perceived majority views online, noting that coordinated campaigns can create false impressions of public opinion.
Why it matters
Addresses the growing threat of AI-driven disinformation and its potential to distort democratic discourse and public perception.
KUALA LUMPUR: A flood of comments on social media does not necessarily mean they reflect the views of the majority, especially with artificial intelligence (AI) being used to create fake accounts and generate content, says Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.
The Umno information chief said AI-powered bots could be used to produce large numbers of comments supporting one side or attacking another.
“When the same thing is repeated by dozens or hundreds of accounts, people may get the impression that it is the majority view.
“Many comments do not necessarily mean many Malaysians hold that view,” she said in a statement on Saturday (Sept 12).
Azalina said comments that were the loudest, most numerous or most frequently repeated were also not necessarily true.
She said Malaysians often read the comments section after viewing a news report to see what others thought about an issue.
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