Senior US intelligence official: Russia, China, Iran trying to influence US presidential election

Russia is the most active foreign adversary trying to influence the November 5 US presidential election, while China is more focused on influencing down-ballot races, a senior US intelligence official says

The official says Iran is more active than in past cycles, having stepped up its efforts to sway voters leading up to the presidential and congressional elections.

Earlier this week, the US Justice Department alleged that a Russian disinformation campaign sought to exacerbate tensions among Israelis and Jews in the US to influence voters in the 2024 US presidential election and twist public opinion on the Ukraine war.

In a 277-page affidavit publicized by the Justice Department, prosecutors unveiled a widespread Russian operation it has dubbed “Doppelganger,” to “covertly spread Russian government propaganda” through fake social media profiles, fabricated influencers, AI and cybersquatting, to influence public opinion.

One portion of the disinformation campaign, the department revealed, was to “target Jewish communities across the globe, first and foremost in Israel and the US.” The Russian company Social Design Agency (SDA) created detailed guidelines on how to impersonate Israelis online and share fake articles that push a Russian narrative, according to the affidavit.