US warns of Russia and Iran’s disinformation campaigns as election day unfolds

As Americans cast ballots in a contested presidential election, US intelligence agencies have issued urgent warnings about Russian and Iranian efforts to destabilise the electoral process through disinformation and cyberattacks. 

A joint statement from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the FBI, and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) highlighted the intensifying threat, specifically pointing to Russia as the “most active” foreign actor. 

Russian operatives are reportedly deploying fabricated stories about election fraud in key states, including Arizona, where one viral video falsely accused officials of altering ballots in favour of vice president Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee. This misinformation has been quickly debunked by US election officials, who are urging voters to rely on credible sources.

The statement also highlighted Iran’s cyber activities aimed at compromising Donald Trump’s campaign, including creating media content that discourages voter participation and stokes tensions. While Tehran and Moscow have denied involvement in any interference, American intelligence maintains that they are using disinformation to undermine trust in the democratic process.

CISA said that the agency’s election operations centre is closely monitoring threats to ensure voter confidence and safeguard election integrity. Despite the scale of disinformation, officials say there is currently no evidence suggesting that foreign interference could alter the outcome of the election. Nonetheless, intelligence officials expect the influence campaigns to persist through January’s certification process, especially if the election remains tightly contested.

Similar Russian-backed influence efforts have surfaced in recent elections in Moldova, Georgia, and other Eastern European countries. In Moldova and Georgia, Russia has been accused of supporting political factions and launching disinformation campaigns to sway public opinion and weaken pro-Western agendas. 

^{"I Voted" stickers are displayed at Union Station vote centre in Los Angeles, California, on the final day of early voting ahead of Election Day © Robyn Beck / AFP}