The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) jointly issued a comprehensive guidance document aimed at safeguarding election infrastructure from foreign malign influence operations. The guidance outlines the latest tactics employed by adversaries to manipulate U.S. policies, decisions, and public discourse, particularly focusing on election-related targets.
It discusses various tactics commonly utilized in foreign influence operations, including recent examples, and suggests potential countermeasures for stakeholders involved in election infrastructure. The document emphasizes the significance of defending the democratic process against deliberate attacks by foreign adversaries, highlighting the critical role of collaboration among government agencies, election officials, and the public in countering these threats.
CISA Senior Advisor Cait Conley underscored the importance of collective efforts in protecting the integrity of the electoral process, affirming CISA’s commitment to supporting election officials and the American public in this endeavor. Acting Assistant Director Joseph Rothrock of the FBI’s Counterintelligence Division emphasized the need for awareness and collaboration in combating foreign malign influence operations, emphasizing the FBI’s ongoing efforts to disrupt such threats.
ODNI Foreign Malign Influence Center Director Jessica Brandt reiterated the persistent efforts of foreign actors to sow discord and undermine confidence in democratic institutions, emphasizing the evolving challenge posed by new technologies and the necessity for a comprehensive response involving government, industry, and civil society.
