Cybersecurity Director Confident in Election Security Despite Foreign Interference
Jen Easterly, the director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), has assured that the US election systems are robust enough to withstand any foreign interference. She stated that even though foreign powers are actively trying to influence US voters and create discord, they do not have the capability to significantly alter the core election infrastructure, such as vote casting and ballot counting.
Assurances of Election Security
In an interview with The Associated Press on October 2, Easterly expressed confidence in the security of the US election system. She stated, “Malicious actors, even if they tried, could not have an impact at scale such that there would be a material effect on the outcome of the election.”
Despite her assurances, US intelligence agencies continue to express concerns about disinformation and influence operations by foreign powers, particularly with the upcoming November 5 election. A recent report from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) highlighted that countries like Russia, Iran, and China are increasingly using artificial intelligence (AI) to shape public opinion in the US.
Foreign Influence Operations
According to the ODNI report, AI has significantly enhanced foreign influence operations. Russia, for instance, is using AI to create misleading election-related content, including fake audio, videos, and narratives. Iran, on the other hand, is generating fake news articles and social media posts to create divisions among US voters. China’s approach is more indirect, focusing on shaping global perceptions of its policies and amplifying US domestic issues.
Easterly acknowledged these attempts to influence public opinion in the US, noting that China is “very interested” in influencing the 2024 election. However, she emphasized that there have been no detected cyber activities targeting the US voting systems.
Public Concerns Over Election Integrity
Despite Easterly's assurances, several surveys have highlighted public concerns over the integrity of US elections. These include doubts about their honesty, openness, and the potential impacts of AI or foreign interference.
One survey conducted by the Public Affairs Council found that only 37 percent of Americans believe the 2024 election will be “honest and open.” Another survey from the University of South Florida revealed that most US voters think the federal government hasn’t done enough to deter foreign actors from interfering with the presidential election. Furthermore, a survey by the Imagining the Digital Future Center at Elon University found that 78 percent of Americans believe AI-generated content on social media will influence the upcoming election.
The Role of AI in Election Influence
In March, a report highlighted the rising influence of political memes on election discourse. Pamela Rutledge, director of the Media Psychology Research Center, stated that deep fakes—realistic images, videos, and audio typically created by generative AI software—can effectively deceive people. She added that even if the content is obviously fake or of low quality, the messages can still be persuasive if they confirm people’s political biases.
Bottom Line
The assurance from the director of CISA about the security of the US election system is a crucial message amidst the growing concerns about foreign interference and the use of AI in elections. However, it is clear that the public remains skeptical about the integrity of the upcoming elections. What are your thoughts on this matter? Do you believe that the US election system can withstand foreign interference? Share your thoughts and this article with your friends. Don't forget to sign up for the Daily Briefing, which is available every day at 6 pm.
