This archive report was first published on 22 September 2019.
Published on September 22, 2019, by AFP
As the 2020 US elections approach, concerns about digital threats to election security are growing. The 2016 election saw a wide-ranging misinformation campaign on Facebook and other social platforms, largely directed by Russian operatives.
Special counsel Robert Mueller's office obtained several indictments for election interference, highlighting the scope of the problem. Cyber interference and disinformation operations surrounding elections are a 'much larger, ongoing challenge to democracies everywhere,' according to a report from Stanford University's Cyber Policy Center.
Maurice Turner, an election security specialist with the Center for Democracy & Technology, warned that these threats could lead to 'a negative impact on voter confidence' in 2020. The newest threat may be 'deepfake' video and audio manipulated with artificial intelligence, which can put words in the mouths of candidates.
Experts say it will be increasingly difficult to counter automated accounts or 'bots' that can amplify false news. Facebook, Google, Microsoft, and Twitter security teams met in September with FBI, homeland security, and intelligence officials to discuss collaboration on election threats.
Facebook's visual platform Instagram could become the most important 'disinformation magnet' in 2020, a report by New York University's Center for Business and Human Rights suggests. The report also warned that Russian organizations may try to recruit 'unwitting' Americans to help spread propaganda.
