As American voters brace for the upcoming elections, U.S. authorities warn of a significant cybersecurity threat posed by Iranian campaigns, aimed at sowing discord and undermining democracy. Iranian hackers reportedly have many planned tactics to sway a voter’s opinion.
Anticipated Influence Tactics
U.S. officials expect that Iran may elevate direct influence attempts on American voters, potentially inciting societal division or violence. Recent reports indicate that Iranian operatives may have already accessed voting systems, mirroring the activities observed in the 2020 elections. Intelligence reports suggest Iranian military intelligence may have come into possession of the personal details of numerous American voters, to exploit them to create confusion and distrust in the electoral system.
Both Iran and Russia appear to be engaged in a broader strategy of propaganda operations targeting Americans, each with distinct preferences on election outcomes. Reports suggest that Iranian actors might resort to direct targeting of individuals, conveying messages to provoke physical actions, including acts of vandalism. The potential for heightened activities and domestic disruptions as elections near remains a substantial concern.
U.S. officials expect that Iran is likely to contact individual Americans directly to try to influence how they vote, sources say.
Last week, intelligence officials said that Iran and Russia were continuing propaganda operations to influence voters. https://t.co/gK0td71HmR
— NBC News (@NBCNews) October 30, 2024
Continued Foreign Efforts
Beyond Iran’s activities, multiple foreign adversaries—Russia and China included—continue their campaigns to exert influence on U.S. political discourse. Russian operatives employ increasingly sophisticated techniques, such as deepfake videos, to discredit U.S. political figures, whereas Chinese-linked campaigns have targeted Republicans critical of China. Disinformation campaigns have reportedly gained traction, amplified occasionally by unwitting Americans.
As the Foreign Malign Influence Center actively works to protect against foreign interference in elections, estimates indicate these efforts will persist post-Election Day. Iran and Russia are notably concentrating their influence campaigns on the presidential vote, with Russia showing historical support for Trump and Iran favoring Vice President Kamala Harris.
New: US intelligence thinks the likely next move for Iranian influence ops is reaching out directly to American voters, a la their threatening emails to Florida Democrats in 2020. W @dandelucehttps://t.co/YHzRGKIlbN
— Kevin Collier (@kevincollier) October 30, 2024
Protecting Democratic Integrity
The task of safeguarding the democratic process, especially against cyber threats and propaganda, remains urgent. Intelligence suggests that adversaries employ an array of tactics, including hacking, leaking information, deploying bots, and creating targeted attack ads, all aimed at divisive ends. The potential for using artificial intelligence to further election interference by creating deepfakes represents an emerging threat that requires continuous vigilance.
While social media companies play a significant role in identifying and combating these operations, they primarily depend on collaborations with government entities for verification and further action. The persistent threat posed by such actors necessitates ongoing efforts to maintain the integrity and trust in democratic institutions across the United States.
