The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for June 17, 2024
Brian is taking Father’s Day off, but is rebroadcasting this report from April 22. Tuesday’s report will build on this one, as the U.S. House Appropriations committee shockingly and short-sightedly cut funding last week for election cybersecurity state grant funding.
Today’s Script
(Variations occur with audio due to editing for time. Today’s Links below the script)
Today’s Script
(Variations occur with audio due to editing for time. Today’s Links below the script)
You’re listening to the American Democracy Minute, keeping YOUR government by and for the people.
U.S. government cybersecurity experts issued warnings April 17th to election and public officials to lock down computer systems and train staff, in preparation for expected disinformation campaigns by Russia, China and possibly Iran.
The FBI Counterintelligence Division, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence issued a joint eight-page report with the warnings and recommendations. The report is aimed at state and local election officials in preparation for the 2024 elections.
The report cites recent efforts by Russia to create “proxy media” sites, which mix real news stories with stories using messaging to undermine confidence in elections, and to plant stories among unsuspecting U.S. politicians and influencers. There is also evidence in Europe of Russian experimentation with AI-generated TV news anchors, and AI voice cloning of politicians and public figures.
The U.S. agencies recommend municipalities use only .gov website extensions, to harden those sites, and distribute official information only through those locations. Multi-factor authentication for those sites should be implemented. For official social media accounts, the platform’s highest security available is recommended.
Security officials further recommend that election officials train not only their staff on what to look out for, but teach voters to be smart about information sources and sharing of election information.
We have a link to the recommendations at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.
Today’s Links
Articles & Resources:
CISA – Statement: CISA, FBI, and ODNI Release Guidance for Securing Election Infrastructure Against the Tactics of Foreign Malign Influence Operations
FBI, CISA & ODNI – Report: SECURING ELECTION INFRASTRUCTURE AGAINST THE
TACTICS OF FOREIGN MALIGN INFLUENCE OPERATIONS
Brennan Center for Justice – Preparing to Fight AI-Backed Voter Suppression
Brennan Center for Justice – Recommendations to Fight Back Against Election Misinformation
Rand Corporation – Analyzing Election Disinformation Efforts
Fordham Law Voting Rights & Democracy Project – Spies, Trolls, and Bots: Combating Foreign Election Interference in the Marketplace of Ideas