New York
As the US presidential election starts today, officials have raised alarms about foreign interference after the appearance of an AI-generated video targeting Vice President Kamala Harris. The video, allegedly crafted by Russian operatives, falsely accuses Harris’s husband, Doug Emhoff, of taking a bribe. This latest incident has intensified concerns about election meddling by foreign actors.
According to US intelligence agencies, Russia appears to support former President Donald Trump, while Iran is backing Vice President Harris. China is reportedly influencing Congressional races. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), the FBI, and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) identified Russia’s actions as part of a broader strategy to undermine trust in the election process and sow division among Americans.
The ODNI previously noted other attempts to damage Harris’s reputation, including false allegations about her past conduct, amplified through social media. An official stated that after the election, foreign actors may continue using similar tactics to cast doubt on election legitimacy.
Iranian agents have also allegedly hacked Trump’s campaign, leaking sensitive documents to media outlets and Democratic operatives. Although some outlets refused to publish the information, a Democratic-aligned Political Action Committee recently shared parts of it online.
Officials warn that this interference extends to Congressional and local elections, with countries like Cuba, Russia, and China supporting or opposing candidates based on their foreign policy positions.
