Amid efforts to influence the election, 2024 contest remains secure

The intelligence community has determined that no foreign adversary has yet attempted to impede government efforts to carry out the 2024 election, even as they otherwise seek to amplify U.S. divisions.

“Our assessment is that it would be very difficult for foreign actors to manipulate election processes at a large enough scale to impact the outcome of a federal election without detection,” an official from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) told reporters Friday.

The call was the agency’s first since Iran successfully hacked Trump campaign emails and also comes after the Justice Department announced a series of measures and indictments targeting Russian efforts to influence the election.

Iran has been more brazen this election, ramping up its own efforts. 

“Iran is making a greater effort than in the past to influence this year’s elections, even as its tactics and approaches are similar to prior cycles,” ODNI noted in a report assessing election security 60 days ahead of the contest. 

“Tehran also has sought cyber access to individuals with direct ties to the presidential campaigns of both political parties while elements have also denigrated the former President. … Beyond attempts to hack and leak information, Iran is conducting covert social media operations using fake personas and using AI to help publish inauthentic news articles.”

Russia, however, remains the predominant threat when it comes to efforts to influence the election, working to target a number of different races beyond the presidential race.

“The scope and the scale of their activities are quite significant,” an official said on the call. “Russia is working up and down ballot races as well as spreading divisive issues.”

They went on to describe them as “fairly robust and quite practiced at doing this type of activity.”

Officials also cautioned that the public should not take at face value Russian President Vladimir Putin’s claims he was backing Vice President Harris in the race.

“The [intelligence community] does not take Putin’s public statements as representative of Russia’s covert intentions. There are many examples over the past several years where Putin’s statements do not align with Russian actions, for example his comments that he would not invade Ukraine,” an ODNI official said.

Speaking at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok earlier this week, Putin expressed support for Harris as well as President Biden.

“Our ‘favorite,’ if you can call it that, was the current president, Mr. [Joe] Biden. But he was removed from the race, and he recommended all his supporters to support Ms. Harris. Well, we will do so — we will support her,” Putin said. “She laughs so expressively and infectiously that it means that she is doing well.” 

Officials pointed to a recent action by the Justice Department to seize 32 different websites used by Russia to sow division and push Russian viewpoints.

A dual-language internal planning document titled “The Good Ol USA Project,” shared by the Justice Department, stresses the need to secure Republican candidates, particularly former President Trump.

It also brought charges against two Russian citizens working for RT, formerly known as Russia Today, for partnering with a U.S. media company to hire influencers to spread other approved rhetoric.