Federal agencies warn of increased Russian, Iranian influence on US voters
UNB
Publish: 05 Nov 2024, 01:14 PM
WASHINGTON
, Nov 5 (AP/UNB) - The nation's federal law enforcement and election security
agencies are debunking two new examples of Russian election disinformation on
the eve of Election Day, highlighting attempts by foreign actors to sow doubt
in the U.S. voting process and warning that the efforts run the risk of
inciting violence against election officials.
In a joint statement
late Monday, federal officials pointed to a recent article posted by Russian
actors falsely claiming that U.S. officials across presidential swing states
were orchestrating a plan to commit fraud, as well as a video that falsely
depicted an interview with an individual claiming election fraud in Arizona.
U.S. intelligence
reveals that Russia-linked influence actors "are manufacturing videos and
creating fake articles to undermine the legitimacy of the election, instill
fear in voters regarding the election process, and suggest Americans are using
violence against each other due to political preferences," read the statement
issued by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the FBI and the
U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. "These efforts risk
inciting violence, including against election officials."
A spokesperson for the
Russian Embassy did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.
Federal officials warned
that Russia will likely release additional "manufactured content" on
Election Day and poses "the most active threat" when it comes to
foreign election influence. The statement also noted that Iran remains a
"significant foreign influence threat to U.S. elections."
The effort described by
federal officials is part of a wide-ranging influence operation by Russia
designed to undermine confidence in the electoral process and sow discord among
American voters. Intelligence agencies have assessed that Russia, which also
interfered on Donald Trump's behalf in the 2016 and 2020 presidential
elections, again prefers the Republican nominee and is likely to persist in its
influence operations well after Election Day.
Besides manufactured
videos intended to promote disinformation, U.S. officials also have accused
Russian state media of a covert, multimillion-dollar operation to spread
pro-Russia content to American audiences and have seized dozens of internet
domains they said fostered propaganda.
In their statement,
officials also drew fresh attention to Iran's attempts to interfere in the
election, which include a hack-and-leak operation designed to harm Trump's
candidacy. The Justice Department in September charged three Iranian hackers in
that effort.
Iranian actors also have
created fake news sites and impersonated activists online in attempts to sway
voters, according to analysts at Microsoft. The tech giant said last month that
Iranian actors who allegedly sent emails aimed at intimidating U.S. voters in
2020 have been surveying election-related websites and major media outlets,
raising concerns they could be preparing for another scheme this year.
As large tech firms and
intelligence officials have called out foreign interference this election
cycle, Russia, China and Iran have rejected claims that they are seeking to
meddle with the U.S. election.
The Arizona video
promoted on social media by Russian actors on Monday purported to show an
anonymous whistleblower revealing an election fraud scheme. Federal officials
said the Arizona Secretary of State's office had already refuted the content of
the video.
Earlier this week, U.S.
officials confirmed that a video claiming to show voter fraud in two
left-leaning counties in Georgia was fake and the product of a Russian troll
farm. And last month, they attributed to Russia another fake video of a person
tearing up ballots in what appeared to be Bucks County, Pennsylvania.
End/UNB/AP/MB