Security News > 2022 > October > FBI warns of disinformation threats before 2022 midterm elections
The Federal Bureau of Investigation warned today of foreign influence operations that might spread disinformation to affect the results of this year's midterm elections.
The federal law enforcement agency warned that foreign actors are actively spreading election infrastructure disinformation to manipulate public opinion, discredit the electoral process, sow discord, and encourage a lack of trust in democratic processes and institutions.
"Foreign actors may intensify efforts to influence outcomes of the 2022 midterm elections by circulating or amplifying reports of real or alleged malicious cyber activity on election infrastructure," the FBI said in a public service announcement jointly issued with CISA. "Additionally, these foreign actors may create and knowingly disseminate false claims and narratives regarding voter suppression, voter or ballot fraud, and other false information intended to undermine confidence in the election processes and influence public opinion of the elections' legitimacy."
"While some voter registration information is publicly available, the FBI and CISA have no information suggesting any cyber activity against U.S. election infrastructure has impacted the accuracy of voter registration information, prevented a registered voter from casting a ballot, or compromised the integrity of any ballots cast," the PSA says.
FBI. The FBI and CISA urged voters to carefully evaluate their sources of information in the lead-up to and after the 2022 midterm elections and to only trust info from trusted sources, including reputable news outlets and election officials.
This was followed by two PSAs regarding spreading disinformation about the results of the 2020 U.S. elections and detailing how attempts to compromise election infrastructure could only slow down but not prevent voting efforts.