Americans could be the target of Russian propaganda in the run-up to the 2024 presidential election, a US intelligence firm has warned.
The Center for Foreign Malign Influence (FMIC), a firm of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, said Monday in an election security update that Russia “remains the primary risk to the U. S. election. “
The United States presidential election will take place on November 5 and will most likely pit former Republican President Donald Trump against the presumptive Democratic nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris.
The agency, created through Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines in September 2022, also labeled China and Iran as foreign actors whose influence activities seek to influence U. S. politics and policies “to gain advantages in their interests and undermine American democracy and Washington’s standing in the world. “”.
Kremlin-linked teams are increasingly actors to leverage their own influence and recruit Russia-based corporations to shape public opinion in the United States, adding similar operations to the U. S. election, Array warned the IMFC.
“These corporations have created platforms of influence, directly and quietly engaging Americans and enhanced equipment to tailor content to American audiences, while hiding Russia’s hand,” the firm said.
“Russian influencers have made varying efforts in this election cycle to build and use networks of U. S. and Western figures to create and spread pro-Russia narratives. “
“Moscow continues to use a wide diversity of influence actors and tactics and is trying to hide its hand further, increasing its success and creating content that resonates more with the American public,” the FMIC added.
Newsweek reached out to Russia’s Foreign Ministry for comment.
An official from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, who spoke to reporters on condition of anonymity Monday, warned Americans to be careful about data spread online.
The content may simply be propaganda or disinformation spread through foreign actors on fake sites designed to look like U. S. media, in an effort to shape public opinion ahead of the 2024 election, the official said.
This disinformation can then be unintentionally shared throughout the American public, thus achieving the Kremlin’s purpose of spreading its propaganda.
“The American public should be aware that the content they read online, especially on social media, possibly constitutes foreign propaganda, even if it appears to come from fellow Americans or the United States,” the official said, according to the Associated Press.
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Isabel van Brugen is a Newsweek journalist based in Kuala Lumpur. She focuses on the war between Russia and Ukraine. Isabel joined Newsweek in 2021 and in the past she has worked with media outlets such as Daily Express, The Times, Harper’s BAZAAR and Grazia. She has an MA in News Journalism from the City of London, University of London and a BA in Journalism in Russian from Queen Mary, University of London. Languages: English, Russian
You can contact Isabel by emailing i. vanbrugen@newsweek. com or by following her on X @isabelvanbrugen
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