Foreign influence campaigns are expected to continue after the 2024 general election, experts and U.S. officials warn. The intelligence community has noted that foreign actors, particularly Russia and Iran, are seeking to exacerbate divisions in the U.S. and influence elections. Experts believe that a close race between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump could provide fertile ground for adversaries to manipulate American views and sow doubt about the integrity of the election.
Lawrence Norden of the Brennan Center for Justice believes that foreign powers may use tactics such as fake news sites and social media bots to spread false information and influence public opinion. The U.S. intelligence community predicts that foreign actors will question the validity of election results after the polls close, potentially further dividing Americans.
Despite concerns about post-election misinformation, the director of the nation’s cyber defense agency, Jen Easterly, is confident in the security of the election. Easterly has stated that voting machines are not connected to the internet, making them safe from cyber threats. She believes that malicious actors would not be able to have a significant impact on the election outcome.
Some lawmakers, including Sen. Mark Warner, have expressed concerns about the level of misinformation and disinformation that could come from foreign adversaries after the polls close. Warner warns that this post-election manipulation of information could be as significant as anything leading up to election night. The potential for foreign interference and misinformation in the 2024 election has raised alarms among experts and officials, who stress the importance of remaining vigilant in safeguarding the integrity of the electoral process.
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