Kremlin Enlists Americans in 2024 Election Disinformation Campaign
Intelligence Officials Warn of Rising Foreign Influence and Propaganda
In a concerning revelation, U.S. intelligence officials have uncovered that the Kremlin is utilizing unwitting Americans and commercial public relations firms in Russia to spread disinformation about the upcoming 2024 U.S. presidential election. This tactic is part of a broader strategy by America’s adversaries, including Iran and China, to influence public opinion and undermine faith in the democratic process.
The warning follows a highly charged political atmosphere in the United States, compelling foreign actors to rapidly adjust their propaganda strategies. Despite these changes, the core objective remains constant: to fill the internet with false and provocative claims about American democracy. An official from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), who spoke under conditions of anonymity, emphasized that online content, especially on social media, could be foreign propaganda masquerading as domestic information.
Russia’s Leading Role in Disinformation
Among the foreign entities involved, Russia poses the most significant threat. Intelligence officials have disclosed that Russian-linked groups are increasingly outsourcing their disinformation campaigns to marketing and communications firms within Russia. This outsourcing serves a dual purpose—efficiently creating disinformation and obscuring the source. In March, the U.S. imposed sanctions on two Russian companies that had constructed fake websites and social media profiles to disseminate Kremlin-backed disinformation.
The nature of this disinformation varies, targeting U.S. presidential candidates, voting processes, and contentious issues such as immigration, crime, and the war in Gaza. The ultimate aim is to persuade Americans to share Russian disinformation unwittingly, believing it to be domestic in origin. Fake websites mimicking credible U.S. news outlets and AI-generated social media profiles are among the tools employed to achieve this.
Increased Vigilance and Government Response
Reflecting the increasing sophistication of these foreign efforts, U.S. authorities have heightened their vigilance. Officials reported that they have issued twice as many warnings to political candidates, government leaders, and election offices so far in the 2024 election cycle compared to 2022. While the exact number of warnings and their recipients remain undisclosed, this uptick underscores the escalated interest in the presidential race by foreign entities and the improved detection capabilities of the U.S. government.
These warnings aim to enable the targets to take necessary protective measures and correct misinformation proactively.
Exploiting Political Developments
Foreign powers are also swiftly capitalizing on recent developments in the U.S. presidential race, such as the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden’s decision to withdraw from the race in favor of Vice President Kamala Harris. Following the attack on Trump, Russian disinformation outlets amplified claims that Democratic rhetoric incited the shooting. They even propagated baseless conspiracy theories linking the incident to Biden or the Ukrainian government.
According to the Atlantic Council’s Digital Forensics Research Lab, Russian voices attempted to associate the assassination attempt with Russia’s ongoing conflict with Ukraine. Intelligence officials have previously assessed that Russian propaganda tends to support Trump. This assessment remains unchanged, with Russia continuing to aim to erode support for Ukraine, as Trump has been perceived as less supportive of NATO and has praised Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Disinformation Efforts by Iran and China
Iran and China are also engaged in disinformation, albeit with differing approaches. While China mounted an extensive disinformation campaign before Taiwan’s recent election, Beijing appears more cautious regarding U.S. elections. Chinese efforts are more likely to target congressional races or other down-ballot contests where candidates have expressed strong anti-China sentiments.
Conversely, Iran has adopted an aggressive stance. Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines recently disclosed that Iranian groups covertly supported American protests over Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza. These groups have masqueraded as online activists, encouraged demonstrations, and provided financial backing to protest organizations. Iran’s disinformation targets candidates likely to escalate tensions with Tehran, such as Trump, whose administration had previously ended a nuclear deal with Iran, reimposed sanctions, and ordered the killing of a top Iranian general.
With a heightened focus on foreign influence, it is imperative for the American public to remain discerning of the information they consume online, acknowledging that it might originate from adversarial sources designed to manipulate and divide.
For further details on this matter, you can visit the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.
Originally published: July 29, 2024
