The Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), alongside the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), has issued a significant statement regarding ongoing foreign influence operations aimed at undermining the integrity of U.S. elections. Released on November 4, 2024, the statement warns that these activities, particularly from Russian actors, are expected to escalate as election day approaches. The intelligence community (IC) highlights the use of fabricated media, including manipulated videos and fake articles, to sow distrust among voters and create discord within the American public.
The statement reveals that Russian influence operatives are actively manufacturing narratives that falsely claim U.S. officials in key swing states are orchestrating election fraud. Specific examples include the amplification of an article suggesting ballot stuffing and cyber attacks, alongside a misleading video featuring a fabricated interview alleging widespread election misconduct in Arizona. The Arizona Secretary of State has publicly refuted these claims, demonstrating the potential dangers of such misinformation campaigns to incite violence and disrupt the electoral process.
Iran is also cited as a notable foreign threat, continuing its history of conducting malicious cyber activities aimed at U.S. elections. The IC notes that Iranian influence actors may produce misleading content to suppress voter participation or encourage violence, paralleling tactics employed in previous election cycles. Additionally, the statement addresses Iran’s ongoing animosity towards certain U.S. officials, particularly former President Donald Trump, as part of its broader strategy for revenge following key geopolitical events.
In light of these threats, CISA advises voters to prioritize information from trusted, official sources, particularly local and state election officials, to navigate the increasing volume of inauthentic content online. The FBI and CISA encourage reporting of any suspicious or criminal activity to local Election Crime Coordinators and provide resources for safeguarding election infrastructure. As foreign influence efforts intensify, maintaining the integrity of the electoral process remains a paramount concern for U.S. authorities.
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