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U.S. intelligence agencies have warned about threats from Russian disinformation on Election Day and following the elections in “swing” states, which pose a risk of violence.
According to a statement released on Monday by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), the FBI, and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), since Friday, intelligence agencies have been monitoring how foreign adversaries, particularly Russia, are conducting additional influence operations aimed at undermining trust in the integrity of U.S. elections and fueling discord.
They anticipate that this activity will intensify on Election Day and in the following weeks, with narratives of foreign influence focusing on “swing” states.
“The most active threat is Russia… Russia-linked entities are producing videos and creating fake articles to undermine the legitimacy of the elections, instill fear in voters regarding the electoral process, and suggest to Americans that they might resort to violence against each other over political preferences,” the statement said.
These efforts, the agencies added, could incite violence, including against election officials.
“We expect that Russian entities will release additional fabricated content on these topics throughout Election Day, as well as in the days and weeks following the closing of polling stations,” the statement continued.
Iran also remains a significant threat in terms of foreign influence on U.S. elections.
Voters are advised to seek information from verified official sources, including state and local election officials.
The U.S. presidential elections began on November 5, with results already available from the first polling station in the tiny settlement of Dixville Notch in New Hampshire.
