#ElectionInterference

US Intelligence Officials Say Iran is to Blame for Hacks Targeting Trump, Biden-Harris Campaigns

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August 19, 2024 at 10:06PM U.S. intelligence officials confirmed Iran’s responsibility for hacking Donald Trump’s presidential campaign, highlighting a broader effort to influence American politics and elections. The FBI’s assessment also revealed Iran’s attempted hack into Kamala Harris’s campaign. These activities aim to disrupt U.S. democratic processes and reflect Iran’s aggressive election interference tactics, prompting … Read more

FBI Says It Is Investigating After Trump Campaign Said Sensitive Documents Were Hacked by Iran

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August 12, 2024 at 09:54PM The FBI is investigating the alleged theft of sensitive documents from Donald Trump’s campaign in a suspected Iranian cyber intrusion. The Biden-Harris campaign was also targeted. While the Trump campaign provided no specific evidence, it came shortly after Microsoft reported foreign interference attempts. Iran denied involvement, but Microsoft highlighted increasing … Read more

Iran Is Accelerating Cyber Activity That Appears Meant to Influence the US Election, Microsoft Says

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August 9, 2024 at 09:30AM Iran is ramping up online activity to potentially influence the U.S. election, including phishing attacks on a presidential campaign. Microsoft’s report reveals Iran’s evolving tactics, such as creating fake news sites and impersonating activists. The report also indicates Russia and China exploiting U.S. political polarization. As Election Day approaches, foreign … Read more

Pro-Iran groups lay groundwork for ‘chaos and violence’ as US election meddling intensifies

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August 9, 2024 at 09:11AM Microsoft has reported an increase in Iranian efforts to influence the upcoming US presidential election, indicating potential activity to incite violence against key figures. They highlighted the distinct characteristics of Iranian influence operations as well as the involvement of state-sponsored groups with different objectives and methods. Concerns also surround Russia’s … Read more

Man behind deepfake Biden robocall indicted on felony charges, faces $6M fine

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May 24, 2024 at 07:28PM Steven Kramer, a political consultant from New Orleans, was indicted on charges of felony voter suppression and misdemeanor impersonation of a candidate for creating a deepfake anti-Biden robocall, facing a $6 million FCC fine. Kramer used AI-generated voice cloning and caller ID spoofing technology to influence the New Hampshire Democratic … Read more

Microsoft warns deepfake election subversion is disturbingly easy

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April 2, 2024 at 11:07AM Amid upcoming global elections, Clint Watts, Microsoft’s Threat Analysis Center GM, anticipates AI-driven misinformation influencing outcomes. Deception may not reach feared sophistication but will remain effective due to simple tactics. Watts’ team monitors government-linked threat groups globally and identified AI techniques utilized by Russian actors to post fake news. AI … Read more

US, Russia Accuse Each Other of Potential Election Cyberattacks

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March 12, 2024 at 09:51AM A new annual report from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence outlines cyber threats to US national interests from Russia, China, and Iran, highlighting concerns about disruption to the US elections. The report suggests that China and Russia are threats at a global scale, while Iran remains a … Read more

Ahead of Super Tuesday, US elections face existential and homegrown threats

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March 3, 2024 at 08:23PM The U.S. faces escalating foreign threats to election integrity, as FBI director Christopher Wray warned of adversaries utilizing new technology. Senator Mark Warner expressed concerns about foreign and domestic interference, cyber-attacks, misinformation, and AI-generated deepfakes impacting the 2024 elections. Experts emphasize the need for vigilance against disinformation and the challenges … Read more

Iran’s cyber operations in Israel a potential prelude to US election interference

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February 7, 2024 at 11:39AM Microsoft’s Threat Analysis Center (MTAC) warned that Iran may utilize advanced techniques in cyber operations leading up to the 2024 US Presidential elections, echoing its 2020 interference. The increase in pro-Iran groups engaging in cyberattacks and influence operations poses a complex and interconnected threat environment. Iran’s effective influence campaigns and … Read more