The FBI is now warning the public about two false videos online claiming terrorist threats and voter fraud. The agency said this kind of disinformation will probably increase as Americans vote, urging voters only to seek updates from verified sources.

Disinformation Tactics: Fake Threats and Voter Fraud Claims

The FBI said Tuesday, in a statement that drew attention to two of these videos, which have appeared as part of the latest wave of disinformation. One was constructed to resemble an official FBI warning to Americans of a high terror threat, telling them to vote from afar for safety. The other consisted of a phoney press release purportedly from the federal authorities which claimed- falsely-that inmates at five prisons had voted.

The FBI said both videos were wholly fabricated. “Attempts to deceive the public with false content about FBI threat assessments and activities aim to undermine our democratic process and erode trust in the electoral system,” the agency said. Officials continue to remind everyone to verify information and use credible sources.(More)

Election Security on High Alert Amid Rising Disinformation

Federal, state, and local officials have been vigilant and alerting the public regarding the dangers of election-related disinformation. As of Tuesday morning, Cait Conley, a senior official from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, announced in a media briefing that there was no credible evidence of widespread election disruptions; however, she did suggest that foreign actors could continue to try to manipulate the public’s perception by creating false information.

As we’ve said repeatedly, we may see more of this activity today and in the coming weeks, with a particular focus on influence narratives impacting swing states, “Conley said. The officials continue to monitor those threats, especially in the battleground states where the stakes are the highest: Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.

Foreign Influence Attempts Expected to Increase

S tells US intelligence agencies that foreign influence operations will peak through Election Day or later. They report that those efforts probably will focus on the seven battleground states, where a close race could significantly affect election results.

Jen Easterly, the director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, has been engaged in efforts to secure the US election infrastructure. She said that no attempts have been made that could directly impact the vote or the outcome of voting. However, there are efforts to influence voters through disinformation. Easterly’s agency has worked with the federal and local governments to build election security and respond quickly to disinformation.

Russia Accused of Recent Disinformation Campaigns

US intelligence officials last week directly linked Russia to a recent video that falsely portrayed a Haitian immigrant boasting about voting multiple times in Georgia. Over the weekend, the FBI issued warnings about additional fake videos, fueling concerns that foreign entities are ramping up disinformation campaigns targeting American voters.

Russia has consistently denied doing that. However, the US government has repeatedly accused it of trying to interfere in past elections. Authorities have been eager to assure citizens that they are observing everything closely for an attempt at manipulation or disrupting the electoral process.

 Call for Voter Vigilance

US officials have been asking voters to be vigilant and verify their sources of information on any issues regarding the election because foreign actors are actively trying to craft a narrative. This is how crucial voter awareness is to maintaining the integrity of the democratic process because false narratives persist. The FBI and CISA are working towards getting credible information across to the voters as campaigns of misinformation intensify.