In a high-level alert issued Monday, the Biden Administration’s Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) warned that foreign adversaries, particularly Russia and Iran, are ramping up disinformation campaigns aimed at sowing discord and undermining public confidence in the U.S. electoral system as Election Day approaches.
The joint statement emphasized an escalation in influence operations originating from Russia. According to intelligence officials, Russian operatives have begun amplifying false narratives about election fraud, specifically targeting swing states crucial to determining the election outcome. “Since our statement on Friday, the IC [Intelligence Community] has been observing foreign adversaries, particularly Russia, conducting additional influence operations intended to undermine public confidence in the integrity of U.S. elections and stoke divisions among Americans,” the statement read, noting that Russia's activities are expected to intensify through Election Day and possibly into the weeks that follow.
The agencies also reported that Russian actors had circulated an article alleging election fraud by U.S. officials across key states through tactics like “ballot stuffing and cyberattacks.” The article, deemed by officials to be disinformation, aimed to destabilize voters’ trust in the voting process. Another example provided was a fabricated video purporting to feature an interview with an individual making unsubstantiated claims of fraud in Arizona, including accusations of tampering with overseas ballots and manipulating voter rolls. Arizona officials promptly debunked these claims, the agencies said, calling attention to Russia’s strategic efforts to undermine election integrity narratives.
Iran was also cited in the advisory as a significant influence threat, particularly in relation to recent pro-Gaza demonstrations in the U.S., which intelligence officials suggest Iran may have incited. In addition to fomenting tensions, Iranian operatives have allegedly continued cyber activities targeting former President Donald Trump and his campaign, further underscoring Iran’s antagonistic stance. According to the statement, Iranian influence actors may be orchestrating fake media content designed to discourage voting and incite violence, a tactic observed in previous elections. Iranian officials are also thought to be pursuing revenge against former U.S. leaders, including Trump, following the January 2020 death of General Qasem Soleimani, head of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force, which Iran continues to view as an act warranting retaliation.
In light of these activities, U.S. intelligence agencies have been intensifying monitoring efforts to track foreign influence campaigns. The agencies urged the public to critically evaluate online narratives and be aware of the potential for foreign-influenced disinformation, particularly as election results unfold in the days and weeks ahead.
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