Chinese President Xi Jinping, left, and Russian President Vladimir Putin, right. Officials say China may mingle in down-ballot races while Russia will increase its meddling as U.S. election day gets closer to manipulate public opinion. (Mikhail Svetlov/Getty Images)
Officials said that the intelligence community expects Russia will increase its underhanded activities as U.S. election day gets closer in order to manipulate public opinion, underscoring the threat to America’s political landscape.
Although former President Trump was not named specifically, ODNI officials said that the Russian interference is mimicking what it says were similar preferences for U.S. presidential candidates seen in previous election cycles.
Russia is "undertaking a whole-of-government approach to influence the election, including the presidential race, Congress and public opinion," the official said, noting that Russia has grown "more sophisticated" over the years in election interference.
The Kremlin, officials said, is seeking to influence specific voting groups in swing states, as well as looking to promote divisive narratives and denigrate specific politicians, although no specifics were provided.
An official said that artificial intelligence (A.I.) is making it easier for Russia – and other actors – to interfere in the U.S. political syatem, since the technology allows Kremlin operatives to mimic American Southern or Midwestern accents.
'PRO-RUSSIAN INTERFERENCE NETWORKS' EXIST IN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES, BELGIAN PM SAYS
Anti-Israel protesters wave Palestinian flags in Washington Square Park in New York City on Friday, May 3, 2024. Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines said Tuesday that Iran is attempting through social media to covertly stoke protests in the U.S. against the war in Gaza. (Rashid Umar Abbasi for Fox News Digital)
"We have observed actors tied to Iran’s government posing as activists online, seeking to encourage protests, and even providing financial support to protesters," Haines said, adding that Americans protesting in good faith may not know they are being influenced by the Iranian regime.
"We urge all Americans to remain vigilant as they engage online with accounts and actors they do not personally know."
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Tuesday’s briefing came on the same day that the Justice Department nabbed an alleged social media "bot farm" run by the Russian government that was being used to spread disinformation in the U.S. and other countries.
The Justice Department said it seized two domain names and identified 968 social media profiles used by Russian actors in the Netherlands to create AI-enhanced social media profiles to promote messages in support of Russian government objectives.
One of the fake messages posted on X, formerly Twitter, in 2023 included a video of Russian President Vladimir Putin justifying the country’s actions in Ukraine, although the video only had a handful of views.
Fox News' Liz Friden contributed to this report.
Michael Dorgan is a writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business.
You can send tips to michael.dorgan@fox.com and follow him on Twitter @M_Dorgan.
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