Election security officials tracking misinformation and groups trying to sow chaos

Amna Nawaz:

Today, federal officials responsible for securing the election and U.S. critical infrastructure said that, while they were tracking small-scale disruptions to tomorrow's vote, they saw no evidence of activity that could affect the outcome.

Geoff Bennett:

The threats to influence and interfere with the vote include disinformation, hacking and even attempts to foment violence by both domestic and foreign actors.

Let's start with Nick Schifrin, who's reporting on this year's foreign threat.

So let's start there, Nick.

What is the biggest concern this election about foreign interference, foreign actors?

Nick Schifrin:

Geoff, the intelligence community believes that Russia favors former President Trump, that Iran favors Vice President Harris, and that China's focused on downballot races.

But all are united in wanting to sow chaos and deepen division in the U.S. And so one of the main concerns is actually after Election Day, that if, for example, former President Trump were to declare victory, his campaign declares widespread fraud, or even as there are allegations of any kind of fraud after the election, Russia, Iran would then amplify any of those claims of fraud and even try and foment violence.

And so one of the main officials — one of the main messages from officials tonight who want to secure the vote is listen to state and local authorities, not any candidate, not any campaign, and that election night results are unofficial.

Geoff Bennett:

Let's talk more about Russia. What's the specific concern?

Nick Schifrin:

Intelligence community officials say that Russian actors are the most sophisticated, even knowing which swing states to target, and they have generated the most viral content.

This weekend, the FBI called out a new video you see there. It makes false allegations about early voting. The intelligence community has not identified this video as Russian-created, but multiple researchers today told me it was likely by the Russian group Doppelganger.

Overall, the intelligence community says Russian actors have released a — quote — "fire hose of disinformation," including videos like this one, about Haitian voters that undermine Americans' faith in the election results.

And officials say many videos like this one, false claims about ballots in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, are designed to help Trump and amplify his claims of fraud and at the same time denigrate Vice President Harris. You see another one there with a false claim about Harris and rare rhinos.

Russia's attempts are largely through proxies, Geoff, with ties to Russian intelligence, with an attempt to launder their Russian origin using P.R. companies, unwitting, witting Americans, even influencers.

Geoff Bennett:

What about Iran?

Nick Schifrin:

The Department of Justice indicted three Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps officials earlier this year for hacking the Trump campaign, stealing e-mails and documents, and trying to leak those e-mails and documents to the media and even to the Harris campaign.

Intelligence officials and election researchers also say that Iran has used fake news articles, fake online personas, even offered people money to go to pro-Palestinian protests. But those efforts largely have not been considered effective. And a former senior military official told me that Cyber Command inside the military is — quote — "hammering" these Iranian groups online to try and stymie their operations.

Another point, Iran's efforts, Russia's efforts are not new at all. But what is new, the speed at which the intelligence community has been able to call out some of these fake disinformation and some of these fake accounts.

That said, it's not clear social media companies have all complied with some of these findings, especially X, which is run by Elon Musk, the world's richest man, who's endorsed Donald Trump.

Geoff Bennett:

Yes, indeed.

What about China? How is China trying to influence this election?

Nick Schifrin:

Much more focused on downballot races, rather than the presidential race. Intelligence officials, researchers say that China's disinformation has, frankly, largely been ineffective, a sign that China simply doesn't understand the American electorate or American voting patterns, as much as especially Russia.

But, Geoff, that doesn't mean that they're not trying.

Geoff Bennett:

Nick Schifrin, our thanks to you, as always.

Nick Schifrin:

Thank you.