Tom Cruise's AI deepfakes were linked to Russian-based disinformation campaigns online against France for hosting the upcoming 2024 Summer Olympics.
In a blog post on Saturday, Microsoft reported that the documentary, "Olympus Has Fallen," used AI-generated audio to impersonate Cruise criticizing the International Olympic Committee and French President Emmanuel Macron.
Aside from Cruise, the propagandized documentary also includes fake endorsements from Western media as a mark of legitimacy. Many of the credentials cited were faked through generative AI.
The video was released along with supposed Russian-made fake websites that spread the video to social media and other online platforms.
Tom Cruise has yet to comment about the spread of his AI deepfakes.
"Olympus Has Fallen" was released amid growing tensions between Russia and other European countries as it continues to wage its war against Ukraine, which France has backed.
More Celebrities Caught in Russian Political Propaganda
The appearance of Tom Cruise in the AI-generated disinformation documentary is only the latest report of Hollywood celebrities appearing in pro-Russian propaganda videos.
Microsoft's Threat Analysis Center earlier reported that pro-Russian actors are using Cameo, a video dedication request site, to manipulate celebrities' videos to damage Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's credibility.
Videos of "Breaking Bad" star Dean Norris and "Lord of the Rings" actor Elijah Wood have gone viral after being manipulated to send a message to someone called "Vladimir" to "seek help for substance abuse."
Many of the actors used in the videos were unaware of the propaganda scheme and only came to know about the manipulated videos after they went viral.
With the rise of generative AI in Russian-based disinformation campaigns, AI deepfakes like Cruise's are expected to grow in the coming months.
Generative AI-Fueled Political Disinformation Surge Amid Unregulated Distribution
The spread of AI-generated deepfakes in political propaganda and disinformation follows earlier concerns that the technology will be used to deepen people's divide online.
Several AI experts have already raised the current distribution of AI products posing great dangers to the public as the technology may fall into criminals' control.
Microsoft itself has reported that state-backed threat actors are using its chatbots to automate its cyberattacks in the US and Europe.
