US to accuse Russia of trying to influence 2024 election, unveil major actions against disinformation campaign

The Biden administration on Wednesday is set to accuse Russia of a sustained effort to influence the 2024 US presidential election by using Kremlin-controlled media and online platforms to spread disinformation targeting US voters, according to a CNN report, citing six sources familiar with the matter.

According to the report, the US is likely to take several actions, including a public condemnation by the White House and an announcement from the Justice Department about law enforcement measures against the covert Russian campaign.

A major focus will be on RT, the Russian state media network, which the US officials view as a central element in pushing Kremlin’s propaganda.

The disinformation campaign is reportedly being propagated through both American and non-American voices, added the report, citing sources.

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Taken together, the actions would be the Biden administration’s most significant public response yet to alleged Russian influence operations targeting American voters.

Following last month’s accusations against Iran for attempting to hack both the Trump and Biden-Harris campaigns, Wednesday’s actions underscore the administration’s ongoing concern about Russia’s role as a major foreign influence threat for the upcoming election, reported CNN.

According to the report, Attorney General Merrick Garland will lead a meeting of the Justice Department’s Election Threats Task Force on Wednesday afternoon, with senior law enforcement leaders, including FBI Director Christopher Wray, in attendance.

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The Social Design Agency, a Russian company already sanctioned by the Treasury Department for operating fake news sites in Europe, is expected to be named in the announcements, added the report.

RT, formerly known as Russia Today, continues to run global platforms advancing the Kremlin’s agenda. The Justice Department had previously forced RT America to register as a foreign agent in 2017 due to its involvement in Russian election interference efforts.

Wednesday’s announcements mark the second major push by the Biden administration to counter RT’s influence in recent months.

In July, the Justice Department accused an RT employee of orchestrating a disinformation scheme using around 1,000 fake social media accounts to spread false narratives about the Ukraine war. The Kremlin, however, denied financing the scheme.

CNN has also reached out to RT for  comments on the expected US announcements.

The media outlet has previously ridiculed US allegations that it acts as a Russian influence agent.

Since Russia’s 2016 election interference, which involved hacking the DNC and leaking documents to undermine Hillary Clinton, foreign operatives have increasingly targeted US elections.

According to the CNN report, In the 2024 election, Iran’s alleged embrace of a similar hack-and-leak playbook that Russia used in 2016 has US officials on heightened alert.  In June, Iranian hackers breached the Trump campaign, stole internal documents, and shared them with the media. They also targeted campaign staff by accessing Roger Stone’s email account.

China is also under scrutiny, with US officials and experts noting its extensive online operations aimed at US voters. Despite Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s assurance to President Biden last November that China would not interfere, concerns persist.

Nevertheless, tampering with the US election process remains highly challenging due to robust security measures.

There is no evidence of any successful efforts, foreign or domestic, to alter vote tallies.

Approximately 97% of voters in the 2024 election will cast ballots in jurisdictions with verified paper records, enhancing election transparency, according to Jen Easterly, director of the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.

With inputs from agencies