FBI and Cybersecurity Agency Issue Warning About Election Disinformation
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) issued a warning on October 18 about potential attempts by foreign actors to disseminate disinformation related to the upcoming November 5 election. This warning comes just over two weeks before the election.
No Evidence of Cyber Activity Against U.S. Election Infrastructure
Both the FBI and CISA stated that they have not found any evidence suggesting that there has been any cyber activity against U.S. election infrastructure that has compromised the integrity of voter registration information or disrupted the ability to count votes or transmit unofficial election results in a timely manner.
Foreign Adversaries May Promote False Narratives
However, the agencies warned that foreign adversaries might still attempt to promote false or misleading narratives in an effort to influence the election or undermine American confidence in its electoral systems and processes.
AI-Produced Election-Related Content
The agencies specifically warned about election-related content produced by artificial intelligence (AI). They stated that AI has made it easier for malicious or foreign actors to create advanced schemes to influence the election.
Use of Synthetic Media Messaging Campaigns and Inauthentic News Articles
Foreign actors are reportedly using AI tools to develop and distribute more compelling synthetic media messaging campaigns and inauthentic news articles, as well as synthetic pictures and deepfakes, at a greater speed and scale across numerous U.S.- and foreign-based platforms.
Example of AI-Aided Content Produced by Foreign Actors
As an example of AI-aided content produced by foreign actors, the agencies mentioned that Russian groups have created web pages designed to look like legitimate mainstream news websites such as The Washington Post or Fox News.
Creation of Fake Social Media Profiles
Russian influence actors have also created fake social media profiles posing as U.S. citizens to direct users to these fake news websites and purchased social media advertisements to drive traffic to the specific fake articles on the fake news site.
Iranian Government Employees Charged
In late September, three Iranian government employees were charged by the Department of Justice for a wide-ranging hacking conspiracy that targeted both current and former U.S. officials as well as political campaigns.
Iran-Backed Hackers Breached Trump Campaign
Iran-backed hackers who breached the Trump campaign in June and July sent emails with hacked campaign materials to people associated with President Joe Biden’s campaign as well as various media outlets.
Importance of Critically Evaluating Information Sources
Both CISA and the FBI stressed the importance of voters critically evaluating information sources, particularly as disinformation campaigns evolve to use AI-generated content. They urged the American public to rely on trusted information from state and local election officials and to verify claims through multiple reliable sources before sharing them on social media or other platforms.
Bottom Line
The recent warning from the FBI and CISA underscores the importance of being vigilant and critical of the information we consume, particularly in the context of elections. It's crucial to rely on trusted sources and verify information before sharing it. As the use of AI in disinformation campaigns continues to evolve, the need for critical evaluation of sources becomes even more important. What are your thoughts on this issue? Feel free to share this article with your friends and discuss it. Remember, you can sign up for the Daily Briefing, which is delivered every day at 6pm.
