US Urging Public to Be Wary of Foreign Influence Campaigns

The U.S. is urging the public to be wary of foreign spy organizations conducting influence campaigns ahead of Super Tuesday, reports USA today.

The Trump administration continues to “work with all 50 states, U.S. territories, local officials, political parties and private sector partners to keep elections free from foreign interference,” reads a statement from Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Attorney General William Barr and acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf.

“We encourage all voters going to the polls to check your voter registration and know ahead of time when to vote, where to vote, what’s on your ballot and whether your state requires an identification,” the officials said.

Two million voters in more than a dozen states and territories will cast their votes in presidential primaries.

The U.S. is being increasingly targeted by Russia, China, and other rivals overseas, all of which have access to sophisticated tools from unmanned systems to biometric devices and advanced encryption, according to the strategy released Feb. 10 by the National Counterintelligence and Security Center.

“Our adversaries regard deception or manipulation of the views of U.S. citizens and policymakers to be an effective, inexpensive and low-risk method for achieving their strategic objectives,” according to the 20-page strategy. “These campaigns are designed, for example, to sway public opinion against U.S. government policies or in favor of foreign agendas, influence and deceive key decision-makers, alter public perceptions, and amplify conspiracy theories.”

The officials Monday said the U.S. remains “alert and ready to respond to any efforts to disrupt the 2020 elections,” the officials said. “We continue to make it clear to foreign actors that any effort to undermine our democratic processes will be met with sharp consequences.” 

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