Iranian Influence Operations Target U.S. Election, Microsoft Report Finds

Politics John Brightwater August 9, 2024

Iranian Influence Operations Target U.S. Election, Microsoft Report Finds

A recent report from Microsoft’s Threat Analysis Center has revealed extensive efforts by groups associated with the Iranian government to disrupt the upcoming U.S. presidential election. The tactics include the creation of fake news sites, targeting of government employees and officials, and the use of artificial intelligence to manipulate online content.

According to the report, Iranian operatives have been working to exacerbate divisiveness and chaos among American voters in the lead-up to Election Day. This interference adds to the already existing efforts by Russian-linked groups, although the approaches taken by these two countries are notably different.

While Russia has been focused on shaping the election outcome, Iran’s primary goal appears to be disrupting the election process itself. In the past three election cycles, Iran has made consistent attempts to influence American voters, and in 2021, the Justice Department charged two suspected Iranian hackers for their involvement in sending threatening emails and spreading false information to voters ahead of the 2020 presidential race.

One of the key findings in the report is the identification of a group known as Storm-2035, which was discovered to be behind four fake news websites posing as American news outlets. These sites targeted both liberal and conservative audiences, amplifying polarizing messaging on contentious issues such as LGBTQ rights and the Israel-Hamas conflict. The use of artificial intelligence to rephrase or plagiarize content from legitimate news sources was also discovered on some of these fake websites.

In addition to the creation of fake news sites, Iranian hackers have been found to have targeted the email accounts of campaign advisers and a government employee in a swing state. The report details how Iranian hackers, connected to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), compromised the email account of a former adviser to a U.S. presidential campaign and attempted to contact a senior official in the same campaign. Another group with links to the IRGC breached the account of a government employee in a swing state as part of a broader operation, although their motives for this particular action remain unclear.

These findings emphasize the ongoing efforts by foreign operatives to interfere with U.S. elections and political discourse. It is critical for individuals, organizations, and government agencies to remain vigilant and take necessary measures to ensure the integrity of the electoral process.

As we approach the upcoming U.S. presidential election, it is imperative that we are aware of the potential influence operations carried out by foreign entities. Microsoft’s report serves as a reminder of the importance of safeguarding the democratic process against external interference.