The US government claims that Russia and Iran are increasing efforts to sway American voters through their influence campaigns.

As the highly anticipated Election Day approaches, federal law enforcement and election security agencies are working to dispel two new instances of Russian election disinformation. These attempts by foreign actors to undermine confidence in the U.S. voting process have raised concerns about potential violence against election officials.

In a joint statement on Monday, officials from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the FBI, and the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency addressed a recent article and video posted by Russian actors. The article falsely claimed that U.S. officials in key swing states were planning to commit fraud, while the video depicted an individual alleging election fraud in Arizona. These efforts, according to U.S. intelligence, are part of a larger scheme by Russia to instill fear in voters, discredit the election process, and incite violence between Americans with different political beliefs.

While the Russian Embassy did not immediately respond to requests for comment, federal officials warn that Russia will likely continue to release fabricated content on Election Day. They also note that Iran remains a significant threat when it comes to foreign election interference.

This operation by Russia is part of a larger strategy to undermine trust in the electoral process and create division among American voters. Intelligence agencies have previously confirmed that Russia interfered in the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections, with a preference for the Republican nominee. Their influence operations are expected to continue even after the election.

Aside from creating fake videos, U.S. officials have also accused Russian state media of running a covert operation to spread pro-Russia content to American audiences. Additionally, they have seized multiple internet domains that were used to promote propaganda.

Officials also drew attention to Iran's attempts to interfere in the election. In September, the Justice Department charged three Iranian hackers for their involvement in a hack-and-leak operation aimed at harming President Trump's candidacy. Iran has also been accused of creating fake news sites and impersonating activists online to sway voters.

Despite being called out by large tech companies and intelligence officials, both Russia and Iran have denied any involvement in meddling with the U.S. election. However, U.S. officials have confirmed that a video circulating on social media, purportedly showing an anonymous whistleblower revealing an election fraud scheme in Arizona, was created by Russian actors. This video has already been debunked by the Arizona Secretary of State's office.

This is not the first time Russia has attempted to spread false information about the election. Just last month, they were responsible for another fake video showing someone tearing up ballots in Pennsylvania. As the election approaches, it is important to remain vigilant and fact-check any information before believing and sharing it.

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