By CHRISTINA A. CASSIDY and ALI SWENSON, Related Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — The nation’s federal regulation enforcement and election safety businesses are debunking two new examples of Russian election disinformation on the eve of Election Day, highlighting makes an attempt by overseas actors to sow doubt within the U.S. voting course of and warning that the efforts run the danger of inciting violence towards election officers.
In a joint assertion late Monday, federal officers pointed to a latest article posted by Russian actors falsely claiming that U.S. officers throughout presidential swing states had been orchestrating a plan to commit fraud, in addition to a video that falsely depicted an interview with a person claiming election fraud in Arizona.
U.S. intelligence reveals that Russia-linked affect 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,” learn the assertion issued by the Workplace of the Director of Nationwide Intelligence, the FBI and the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Safety Company. “These efforts risk inciting violence, including against election officials.”
Federal officers warned that Russia will possible launch further “manufactured content” on Election Day and poses “the most active threat” relating to overseas election affect. The assertion additionally famous that Iran stays a “significant foreign influence threat to U.S. elections.”
The hassle described by federal officers is a part of a wide-ranging affect operation by Russia designed to undermine confidence within the electoral course of and sow discord amongst American voters. Intelligence businesses have assessed that Russia, which additionally interfered on Donald Trump’s behalf within the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections, once more prefers the Republican nominee and is more likely to persist in its affect operations effectively after Election Day.
Moreover manufactured movies supposed to advertise disinformation, U.S. officers even have accused Russian state media of a covert, multimillion-dollar operation to unfold pro-Russia content material to American audiences and have seized dozens of web domains they stated fostered propaganda.
Of their assertion, officers additionally drew recent consideration to Iran’s makes an attempt to intervene within the election, which embody a hack-and-leak operation designed to hurt Trump’s candidacy. The Justice Division in September charged three Iranian hackers in that effort.
As giant tech corporations and intelligence officers have referred to as out overseas interference this election cycle, Russia, China and Iran have rejected claims that they’re searching for to meddle with the U.S. election.
The Arizona video promoted on social media by Russian actors on Monday purported to point out an nameless whistleblower revealing an election fraud scheme. Federal officers stated the Arizona Secretary of State’s workplace had already refuted the content material of the video.
Earlier this week, U.S. officers confirmed {that a} video claiming to point out voter fraud in two left-leaning counties in Georgia was faux and the product of a Russian troll farm. And final month, they attributed to Russia one other faux video of an individual tearing up ballots in what seemed to be Bucks County, Pennsylvania.
Related Press author Eric Tucker in Washington contributed to this report.
The Related Press receives assist from a number of personal foundations to reinforce its explanatory protection of elections and democracy. See extra about AP’s democracy initiative right here. The AP is solely chargeable for all content material.
Initially Printed: November 4, 2024 at 7:27 PM PST
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