US Charges Three Iranians in Election Hacking Plot

AFP
New York: Iran is increasing its efforts to disrupt the upcoming US presidential election by deploying fake news websites and hacking strategies aimed at Donald Trump, according to American officials and cybersecurity researchers.

This follows reports of threats to Trump’s life allegedly linked to the Islamic Republic. Historically known for covert influence operations against its adversaries, Iran has emerged as a significant disinformation threat as the November 5 election approaches.

On Friday, the US government announced charges against three Iranian individuals involved in a broad hacking campaign aimed at undermining Trump’s electoral bid.
Disinformation researchers have identified a number of counterfeit news sites that are producing fabricated articles critical of Trump, much of which is generated using inexpensive generative AI tools.

According to Dina Sadek, a fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Digital Forensic Research Lab (DFRLab), the proliferation of these fake outlets demonstrates “the depth and coordinated planning of Iranian influence operations” intended to sway US voters.

A recent DFRLab report highlighted a significant uptick in government-led Iranian operations as the 2024 elections draw near. One example cited by the Microsoft Threat Analysis Center (MTAC) is NioThinker, which promotes itself as a source for “insightful, progressive news.”

However, the site has recently pivoted its focus to the U.S. elections, featuring content that includes “sarcastic, long-winded articles insulting Trump.”
Another Iranian-created site, Afro Majority, has been identified as targeting African American voters with narratives critical of Trump and supportive of Democratic nominee Kamala Harris.

The Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) reported that among a network of 19 websites disseminating Iranian propaganda, at least eight English-language portals are primarily focused on the US election and target key voter demographics, including African Americans and Hispanics.

The MTAC also spotlighted Westland Sun, a site that appears to focus on issues pertinent to Muslims in Michigan, a key swing state with a significant Arab-American population.

Additionally, Iranian operatives have launched sites aimed at conservative voter groups, such as Savannah Time, which addresses Republican politics and LGBTQ issues.

These operations are part of a broader, multi-language strategy by Iranian authorities that has been in place since at least 2020.

Trump recently warned of “big threats” to his life linked to Iran, although Tehran has denied these allegations. Following a gunman’s attack at a Trump rally in Pennsylvania, US media reported intelligence suggesting a potential Iranian plot against him.

U.S. officials have also expressed concerns about Russian interference in the election. Earlier this month, the MTAC indicated that Russian operatives were intensifying disinformation efforts aimed at undermining Harris’s campaign, including the spread of conspiracy-laden videos.

This comes on the heels of US government accusations against Russia’s state news agency RT for attempting to influence the election, leading to sanctions on its top editors.