NEW YORK (AP) – Foreign adversaries are demonstrating a continued determination to influence America. us election –And there are signs that their activities will intensify as the election day approaches. Microsoft said in the report: Wednesday.
The company’s threat intelligence division said Wednesday that Russian operatives are doubling down on their use of fake videos to smear Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign, while a China-linked social media campaign has been He announced that he was slandering the Republicans who voted for him.
Meanwhile, Iranian actors sent emails intended to intimidate U.S. voters; The tech giant said it has been investigating election-related websites and major media outlets in 2020, raising concerns it may be preparing new plans this year.
This report serves as a warning – Based on information from US intelligence officials – That the worst impact efforts may be yet to come as the country enters this critical final stage and votes begin to be counted. U.S. officials said they remain confident that election infrastructure is stable. Secure enough to withstand any attack From America’s adversaries. Still, the close election has raised concerns about foreign efforts to influence voters.
Microsoft said some of the disinformation campaigns it tracks have received little serious engagement from U.S. audiences, but it has noted others. has been unknowingly amplified by Americans.thousands of people will be exposed to foreign propaganda in the final weeks of voting.
Russia, China, and Iran all reject claims that they are trying to interfere in the U.S. election.
“Presidential elections are an internal matter of the United States. China has no intention and has no intention of interfering in U.S. elections,” the Chinese embassy said in a statement.
“As we have already clearly and repeatedly announced, Iran has no motive or intention to interfere in the US elections. Therefore, Iran categorically rejects such accusations,” Iran’s mission to the United Nations said in a statement. Announced.
A message left at the Russian embassy was not immediately returned Wednesday.
The report reveals a growing picture of coordinated campaigns to advance their opponents’ priorities as global wars and economic concerns raise the stakes of the U.S. election around the world. The report also finds that foreigners have quietly fueled discord among American voters in both the 2016 and 2020 elections, further deepening the divide that has divided the nation almost evenly in the 2016 and 2020 elections, just 13 days before polls closed. It details what was seen.
“The ability of foreign threat actors to rapidly distribute deceptive content could have a significant impact on public perception and election outcomes,” Clint Watts, general manager of the Microsoft Threat Analysis Center, said in a news release. History has shown that.” “Voters, government agencies, candidates, and political parties must remain vigilant against deceptive and suspicious activity online, with a particular focus on the 48 hours before and after Election Day.”
This report adds to previous findings. microsoft U.S. intelligence suggests the Kremlin is committed to discrediting Harris’ character online. I would like Donald Trump to be president again.
Microsoft analysts say Russian actors have spent recent months churning out both AI-generated content and more rudimentary parodies and staged videos to spread disinformation about Harris. It turned out that there was.
What you need to know about the 2024 election
Among the fake videos is a clip of Harris impersonating a park ranger claiming she killed an endangered rhinoceros in Zambia and sharing unsubstantiated allegations about Harris’ running mate, Tim Walz. Video was included, as were U.S. intelligence officials. This week it’s Russia’s fault. Morgan Finkelstein, the Harris campaign’s national security spokeswoman, condemned Russia’s efforts.
The report says other Russian influencers are producing fake election-related videos impersonating American organizations from Fox News to the FBI to Wired magazine.
In recent months, China has been in a negative vote race. Generates distrust and dissatisfaction with democracy. Microsoft analysts say Chinese influencers, widely known as spamfrages, have used fake social media users to attack Republicans who voted against them and publicly denounced China. It is said that there is
According to the report, candidates targeted include Representative Barry Moore of Alabama, Senator Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, and Representative Michael McCaul of Texas, all of whom are seeking re-election. We are aiming for The group also attacked Florida Sen. Marco Rubio.
All four politicians emailed statements condemning China’s aggression against U.S. political candidates and its efforts to undermine democracy.
The Chinese embassy said in a statement that U.S. officials, politicians and media “accused China of using news websites and social media accounts to spread so-called disinformation in the United States.” Such claims are full of malicious speculation against China, and China firmly opposes them. ”
Iran has spent the 2024 election campaign not only on disinformation but also on pursuing Trump. Hacking of former president’s campaignMicrosoft reports that the company is not hampered by ongoing tensions in the Middle East.
Quite the contrary, analysts have found that Iran-linked groups are weaponizing divisive opinions about the Israel-Hamas war to influence American voters. For example, Iranian-controlled individuals appeared on Telegram and X and called on Americans to sit out the election because of the candidate’s support for Israel.
Microsoft’s report also said it observed that an Iranian group compromised the account of a prominent Republican politician targeting another account in June. The company did not name the individual, but said it was the same person it referred to in August as a “former presidential candidate.”
The report also shows that the same Iranian group Posed as a member of the far-right Proud Boys. In recent months, it has been scouting election-related websites and news outlets in swing states for 2020 voter intimidation emails. The action “could signal preparations for more direct influence operations as Election Day approaches,” Watts said.
Iran’s mission to the United Nations said in a statement that the report’s claims are “fundamentally baseless and completely unacceptable.”
Despite efforts by Russia, China and Iran to influence voters, intelligence officials said Tuesday there was no indication yet that they were planning a major attack on election infrastructure as a way to disrupt the outcome. said.
Jen Easterly, director of the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, told The Associated Press earlier this month that improving election security means they can’t change the outcome even if they try. .
Intelligence officials warned Tuesday that Russia and Iran could try to encourage violent protests in the United States. next month’s electionsetting the stage for potential complications in the post-election period.
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