The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Feb. 17, 2025

Today’s Script

(Variations occur with audio due to editing for time. Today’s Links below the script)

The interim head of CISA, charged with protecting America’s critical cybersecurity infrastructure, including for elections, just issued a memo pausing all election protection operations, pending a review.  Hint:  It’s about countering Trump’s 2020 election claims.

WIRED Magazine reports the interim director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, Bridget Bean, ordered a full review of the agency’s election programs since its inception in 2017, including programs countering misinformation and disinformation.  In 2020, this included correcting claims by President Donald Trump that the 2020 Presidential election was somehow rigged to benefit Joe Biden.  Far right Conservatives complained that CISA’s pressuring of social media companies to remove the bogus claims censored free speech.

We reported in July 2023 that under the Biden administration, CISA added staff as liaisons and consultants to state and local election officials.  They advised 8,000 jurisdictions on hardening election systems from very real and ongoing attacks by Russia, China and Iran prior to the 2024 election. February 7th, 17 CISA election staffers were placed on leave, 10 from the state election programs.  

In ordering the review, Bean said CISA would “correct any activities identified as past misconduct by the Federal Government related to censorship of protected speech,” according to WIRED’s reporting.

Vladimir Putin will be glad to hear it.  We’ve linked to the reporting and resources at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.   I’m Brian Beihl.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

American Democracy Minute – (2023) U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Head Announces Additional Election Security Advisors to Assist States in Securing Elections
Cybersecurity Infrastructure Security Agency  – (2024)  2024 Year in Review
Politico – Trump continues federal purge, gutting cyber workers who combat disinformation
Mother Jones – Trump Is Gutting Efforts to Combat Foreign Election Interference
WIRED – Top US Election Security Watchdog Forced to Stop Election Security Work
Cyberscoop – CISA election, disinformation officials placed on administrative leave, sources say

Groups Taking Action:

Common Cause Election Disinformation, Protect Democracy, Election Worker Legal Defense Network,  Center for Internet Security/ISA, IssueOne/Don’t Mess With US.org

Register or Check Your Voter Registration:

U.S. Election Assistance Commission – Register And Vote in Your State

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#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #ProtectElections #CISA #ForeignInterference

The post CISA Pauses All Election Security Programs for Full Review.  Hint:  It’s Not About Election Integrity, It’s Reprisal for Telling the Truth. appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for April 22, 2024

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 

Groups Taking Action:

IssueOne/Don’t Mess With US.org,  Common Cause US,  Protect Elections, Center for Internet Security/ISAC

Please follow us on Facebook and Twitter and SHARE!  

Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org

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Are you a radio station?  Find our broadcast files at Pacifica Radio Network’s Audioport and PRX

#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #ForeignElectionInterference #ProtectElections #Disinformation

The post FBI, CISA and ODNI Issue Guidance to Election Officials to Harden Websites, Train Staff and Educate Voters, Anticipating Foreign Influence Campaigns appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Feb. 16, 2024

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.

Election security experts warned the country’s secretaries of state to take immediate steps to harden their election systems in both cities and rural precincts,  and prepare for cyber and AI election interference from both foreign and domestic bad actors.

Stateline News reports that representatives from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, or CISA,  and the Criminal, Cyber, Response, and Services Branch of the FBI, spoke at the winter meetings of the national associations of Secretaries of State and State Election Directors.  

Attendees were warned of a heightened risk of election interference using cyber attacks from U.S. adversaries, including Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea.   This includes the possibility of attacks on election and other infrastructure, including ransomware attacks.  Fulton County, Georgia experienced such an attack in early January.    

CISA announced new webpage last week called Protect2024, making recommendations to states and municipalities on hardening infrastructure. 

Concerns were also raised about AI, which could make it easier to trick voters with misinformation, such as the fake Biden robocall in New Hampshire, or targeting legal immigrant citizens in their languages.

All this, in addition to continued threats of violence to election officials from homegrown domestic extremists.  After fentanyl-laced letters were sent to election offices, officials were advised to have the overdose reversal drug Narcan available.

We have links to the Stateline News article at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.  I’m Brian Beihl.  

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:
Stateline News –  Feds deliver stark warnings to state election officials ahead of November
Associated Press – (2023) Election offices are sent envelopes with fentanyl or other substances. Authorities are investigating
Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) – New webpage: #Protect2024
National Association of Secretaries of State – NASS 2024 Winter Conference Highlights
National Association of State Election Directors – NASED Highlights Reminders for the 2024 Elections

Groups Taking Action:
Committee for Safe & Secure Elections, Brennan Center for Justice, Elections Infrastructure Information Sharing & Analysis Center, Issue One/National Council on Election Integrity

Please follow us on Facebook and Twitter and SHARE!  

Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org

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Are you a radio station?  Find our broadcast files at Pacifica Radio Network’s Audioport and PRX

#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #ProtectElections #ProtectPollWorkers #CyberSecurity 

The post CISA & FBI Warn Secretaries of State to Prepare for Potential Cyberattacks and AI Voter Suppression Before the 2024 Election appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Feb. 13, 2023

Today’s Links
Articles & Resources:
National Task Force on Election Crises – Full Report & Recommendations – Lessons from the 2022 General Election: How to Prevent Election Crises, and Emerging Issues for 2023, 2024, and Beyond
National Task Force on Election Crises – Website, Recommendations & Resources

Today’s Script:  (Variations occur with audio due to editing for time)

You’re listening to the American Democracy Minute, keeping YOUR government by and for the people.

A coalition of over 50 democracy groups, academics, former government officials, and technical experts released recommendations for 2023 and 2024 election preparation in a February 9th report.

In a succinct, powerful and excellent report, The National Task Force on Election Crises lays out the damage to democracy sustained during the 2020 election and its aftermath, an analysis of the 2022 midterm election, and dozens of recommendations for shoring up our American democracy’s foundation.

Recommendations include sustaining proven election options such as early and mail-in voting; proper funding of election personnel, security and equipment; protection of voters and election officials from violence and intimidation; continued hardening from cyber attacks; and better coordination between community leaders and law enforcement throughout campaigns to ensure the right to vote for all voters.

To build election confidence, the report recommends diverse, well-trained poll workers; speeding up results when possible – including early pre-processing of mail ballots; making sure mail-in ballot deadlines are consistent with the Postal Service’s ability to deliver; and using paper ballots so voters can review them prior to tabulation.

The report also asks for social media platforms and candidates to be held accountable for spreading election disinformation, and for campaign attorneys pushing frivolous lawsuits. There are many other recommendations we weren’t able to cover, so we’ve posted the full report and a link to the Task Force’s website at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. For the American Democracy Minute, I’m Brian Beihl.

The post <strong>National Task force on Election Crises Releases Report & Recommendations to Shore Up Democracy Prior to 2024</strong> appeared first on American Democracy Minute.