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Microsoft Warns: Russia, Iran & China Target U.S. Elections

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Researchers have observed sustained influence efforts by Russia, Iran, and China targeting the U.S. democratic processes. Since the last reports, the U.S. government has exposed cyber and influence activities from foreign adversaries. 

Iran’s malicious cyber actors have sent stolen Trump campaign material to Biden’s campaign and media organizations, and three Iranian actors have been indicted for hacking the Trump-Vance campaign. 

While Iran focused on the Trump campaign, Russia pivoted to the Harris campaign, as Russian actors are integrating generative AI into their content, Iranian groups are preparing for cyber-influence operations, and Chinese actors are targeting down-ballot candidates and Congress members. 

Russian officials have made an effort to target the Harris-Walz campaign by launching attacks against the candidates’ personalities.

Foreign entities can exploit online platforms to spread misleading information during elections, influencing public opinion and potential outcomes, which is especially concerning in the immediate period surrounding Election Day. 

To mitigate this threat, voters, government agencies, campaigns, and political parties must be vigilant against suspicious online activity, promptly detecting and debunking deceptive content. 

Fact-checking remains crucial for maintaining election integrity and countering foreign interference attempts, which highlights Russia’s continued use of traditional and AI-generated content on various platforms to manipulate US public opinion and exacerbate political divisions. 

While most of these videos had limited impact, their existence underscores Russia’s evolving tactics in information warfare. Additionally, some Russian actors have strategically migrated their content publishing from Telegram to X to expand their reach among U.S. audiences. 

Iran’s cyber operations remain active despite escalating tensions in the Middle East. The group “Bushnell’s Men” has called for a U.S. election boycott due to candidates’ support for Israel. 

In the past, this organization has been known to incite anti-Israeli demonstrations and to take advantage of social issues that cause division. 

Microsoft has tracked Cotton Sandstorm’s scouting of election-related websites and media outlets, indicating potential for more direct influence operations. The group’s history of election interference and persistent cyber-influence operations pose a significant threat.

During periods of heightened tension, foreign adversaries, including Russia, Iran, and China, exploit AI to disseminate manipulated media content rapidly, which aims to undermine trust in elections and influence public opinion. 

MTAC is closely monitoring these activities and will publicly disseminate information to educate the public and safeguard institutions from foreign interference.

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