Recent reports from U.S. officials tracking disinformation campaigns reveal an increase in warnings issued to political candidates, government leaders, and other targeted individuals by foreign groups. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence disclosed that the heightened alerts are partly due to the upcoming 2024 election, which draws increased attention from adversaries.
Notifications to targeted individuals have surged since last fall, indicating a growing threat or enhanced government detection capabilities. Lawmakers from both parties have expressed concerns about foreign disinformation's impact on voter confidence and democratic institutions, questioning the government's ability to issue timely warnings.
Influence operations encompass false claims, propaganda, and social media content aimed at misleading voters about candidates, issues, or election procedures. Nations engaging in such campaigns include Russia, China, Iran, and emerging players like Cuba. Russia poses a significant threat, focusing on undermining support for Ukraine and eroding confidence in American democracy.
China conducts more cautious disinformation campaigns, while Iran is viewed as a 'chaos agent' experimenting with techniques to incite voter anger and violence. Private warnings are issued to candidates and organizations when intelligence officials attribute an influence operation to foreign sources, allowing targets to bolster their defenses.
The Foreign Malign Influence Center, responsible for this work, does not monitor domestic groups to avoid interfering with Americans' speech or showing favoritism towards candidates. Notable instances of public warnings include Iran-linked groups intimidating Democratic voters in 2020.
The use of powerful artificial intelligence programs to create lifelike fakes, known as deepfakes, poses a significant threat. Adversaries have utilized AI technology in elections worldwide, including the U.S., where voters in New Hampshire received AI robocalls mimicking President Joe Biden's voice. Intelligence officials emphasize the growing concern of AI deepfakes in influencing voter perceptions.
