Russia, Iran and China may step up influence efforts as US election nears, new report says

With less than two weeks until the US presidential election, Russia, Iran, and China have shown continued determination to influence the vote, according to a new report by Microsoft.

Russian operatives are doubling down on fake videos to smear Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign, while Chinese-linked social media campaigns are maligning down-ballot Republicans who are critical of China, the company’s threat intelligence arm said Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Iranian actors who allegedly sent emails aimed at intimidating US voters in 2020 have been surveying election-related websites and major media outlets, raising concerns they could be preparing for another scheme this year, the tech giant said.

The report serves as a warning – building on others from US intelligence officials – that as the nation enters this critical final stretch and begins counting ballots, the worst influence efforts may be yet to come.

US officials say they remain confident that election infrastructure is secure enough to withstand any attacks from American adversaries. Still, in a tight election, foreign efforts to influence voters are raising concern.

Microsoft noted that some of the disinformation campaigns it tracks received little authentic engagement from US audiences, but others have been amplified by unwitting Americans, exposing thousands to foreign propaganda in the final weeks of voting.

Russia, China and Iran have all rejected claims that they are seeking to meddle with the US election.

“The presidential elections are the United States’ domestic affairs. China has no intention and will not interfere in the US election,” the Chinese Embassy said in a statement.

“Having already unequivocally and repeatedly announced, Iran neither has any motive nor intent to interfere in the US election; and, it therefore categorically repudiates such accusations,” read a statement from Iran's mission to the United Nations.

A message left with the Russian Embassy was not immediately returned on Wednesday.

The report reveals an expanding landscape of coordinated campaigns to advance adversaries’ priorities as global wars and economic concerns raise the stakes for the US election around the world.

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