Iran’s influence campaign poses a significant cyber threat to the upcoming U.S. elections, aiming to undermine democracy and incite societal conflict. In the past outside threats have been overblown. Is this the case this time around? In this election it feels like anything can happen.
Iran’s Protracted Influence Campaign
U.S. officials predict Iran’s attempts to sway American voters, stoking societal unrest. These actions echo past activities, as both Sweden and Israel have accused Iran of similar interference. In a concerning development, reports indicate that Iranian actors have accessed voting records of some Americans, akin to the 2020 elections. This reflects an ongoing strategy targeting America’s democratic stability by increasing divisions among its society.
These Iranian efforts extend beyond mere propaganda. There is potential for Iranian-linked actors to directly target individuals, possibly encouraging physical actions like vandalism. The involvement of Iranian military intelligence, as suggested by declassified U.S. intelligence, reinforces the seriousness of these breaches.
10/29/2024 John Mills, retired U.S. Army Colonel: For every dollar that Russia spends on malign influence activities, which they do, Iran spends three, two of which they borrow from China, China spends $20. It's not even close, CCP is the threat. And fentanyl from China kills… pic.twitter.com/0KBdfFn02m
— dun chuan (@NFSC88JJ) October 30, 2024
Understanding these motives is crucial, especially as both Iran and Russia show differing election preferences, potentially to favor Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Trump, respectively.
A Rising Cybersecurity Threat
Russia, China, and Iran persist in their agenda to undermine U.S. democracy through influence and disinformation campaigns. Accusations have surfaced regarding Russia’s fake videos targeting Vice President Kamala Harris while China attacks critical down-ballot Republicans. Despite declarations of neutrality, these foreign adversaries persist with covert influence attempts, attempting to delegitimize the electoral process.
Foreign influence campaigns could focus on questioning election results’ validity while encouraging potentially violent protests. Such threats necessitate heightened vigilance from American voters and security agencies. Social media platforms could support efforts by identifying and mitigating foreign threats but hinge on government confirmation to act decisively against them.
Strategic Defense Against Malign Influence
The Foreign Malign Influence Center, established in 2022, now stands at the forefront of defending U.S. elections. Its role in combating “malign foreign influence” employs tactics that range from deepfakes to botnets. Intelligence officials remain steadfast in their alert that foreign threats persist beyond immediate elections. Recent indictments underline the dangerous interception of foreign actors, heightening the need for comprehensive defense strategies.
In conclusion, as the election season unfolds, understanding foreign influence patterns and motivations becomes imperative. Efforts by Russia, Iran, and China threaten to compromise America’s electoral integrity. Consequently, maintaining an informed public remains a critical line of defense against such adversities.
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
