Russia, Iran, China expected to utilize AI to try to influence US election, report says

On October 2, Washington reported that the United States perceives an increasing threat from Russia, Iran, and China seeking to exert influence over the November 5 elections. This includes the potential use of artificial intelligence to spread misinformation or divisive narratives, as indicated in the annual U.S. threat assessment released on Wednesday.

According to the Department of Homeland Security’s report, Russian “influence actors” have intensified narratives concerning migrants entering the U.S. in an effort to incite discord. They have also employed generative AI to produce counterfeit websites that mimic legitimate U.S.-based media organizations.

According to the report, Iran has intensified its efforts to exert foreign influence. One instance cited involves Iranian individuals masquerading as activists online to incite protests regarding the conflict in Gaza, as noted by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

The United States is preparing for a closely contested presidential election between Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris and former Republican President Donald Trump, a scenario that could exacerbate partisan divisions and create openings for foreign adversaries to disrupt the democratic process.

US Presidential Election 2024

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) assessment projects that Russia, Iran, and China will employ a combination of subversive, undeclared, criminal, and coercive strategies to exploit opportunities aimed at eroding confidence in U.S. democratic institutions and undermining domestic social cohesion.

Additionally, the report identifies domestic violent extremists as a significant threat. It notes that former President Trump has already been the target of two alleged assassination attempts.

The report anticipates that domestic extremists will engage in violent actions intended to instill fear among voters, candidates, and election workers, as well as disrupt election processes.

The report indicated that among these actors, individual offenders or small groups driven by grievances associated with race, religion, gender, or anti-government sentiments represent the most significant threat.