Election Security

Bots Share the Majority of Links on Twitter

Do you really know who you're retweeting?

  • By Caitlin Fairchild

Facebook Just Took Down 270 Accounts and Pages Run By Russia’s Infamous Troll Factory

This time, their meddling was directed at Russian citizens.

  • By Hanna Kozlowska, Quartz
Early voters use electronic ballot casting machines at the Franklin County Board of Elections, Monday, Nov. 7, 2016, in Columbus, Ohio. Early voters use electronic ballot casting machines at the Franklin County Board of Elections, Monday, Nov. 7, 2016, in Columbus, Ohio.

$380 Million in Election Security Money Coming Soon to States

California will get $36 million to secure its election systems; smaller states get less.

  • By Joseph Marks

Spending Bill Boosts Election Security, Clarifies Overseas Data Warrants

The bill also requires supply chain reviews for cyber risk at some agencies.

  • By Joseph Marks
Senate Intelligence Chairman Richard Burr, R-N.C., right, accompanied by Committee Vice Chairman Mark Warner, D-Va. Senate Intelligence Chairman Richard Burr, R-N.C., right, accompanied by Committee Vice Chairman Mark Warner, D-Va.

5 Big Takeaways From Senate Intel's Election Security Investigation

The bottom line is future elections are in danger of Russian meddling and we haven’t done enough to secure them.

  • By Joseph Marks
Voters fill the electronic voting machines to cast their ballots during the primary election at the precinct in the Highland Colony Baptist Church in Madison, Miss., on Tuesday, March 8, 2016. Voters fill the electronic voting machines to cast their ballots during the primary election at the precinct in the Highland Colony Baptist Church in Madison, Miss., on Tuesday, March 8, 2016.

Better Threat Sharing is Just the First Step in Securing Elections, Senate Committee Says

The intelligence committee previewed far more recommendations, including better attribution.

  • By Joseph Marks

The Data Expert Who Exposed Facebook’s Breach Has Been Suspended by Facebook

The breached allowed for the harvest of data from tens of millions of users without their permission.

  • By Hanna Kozlowska, Quartz

Congress Faces Government Funding That Runs Out Friday

Lawmakers have been working on an omnibus spending bill but it has yet to be introduced.

  • By Joseph Marks and Heather Kuldell

FEC Gets the Ball Rolling on Online Political Ads Rules

If passed, the rules would require websites to disclose who paid for online political ads urging viewers to vote for or against a specific candidate.

  • By Jack Corrigan

Congress Checks In On Modernizing Government Technology Act Progress

The Homeland Security reauthorization bill advances but loses an amendment on election security.

  • By Heather Kuldell and Jack Corrigan
A voter casts his ballot into an electronic voting machine at a polling station in Cincinnati. Ohio. A voter casts his ballot into an electronic voting machine at a polling station in Cincinnati. Ohio.

Secretaries of State Find Federal Election Cyber Intelligence Elusive

With the upcoming midterm elections, it's a race to establish better information sharing between Homeland Security and state and local elections officials.

  • By Dave Nyczepir
Attorney General Jeff Sessions Attorney General Jeff Sessions

Justice Launches Cyber Task Force

The task force will examine cyber efforts to undermine elections and critical infrastructure.

  • By Joseph Marks
The Fake News Game simulates propaganda tactics such as impersonation, and awards badges once a round is completed. The Fake News Game simulates propaganda tactics such as impersonation, and awards badges once a round is completed.

How to Inoculate the Public Against Fake News

When people were given a toolbox of deceptive techniques and told to “play Russian troll,” they learned to reject disinformation.

  • By Patrick Tucker, Defense One

Russia's Troll Operation Was Not That Sophisticated

“If the Internet Research Agency were a start-up media company, they probably would not be picking up a fresh round of venture capital.”

  • By Alexis Madrigal, Quartz

“I Am in Love With LOVE!” Russian Trolls Tried to Seem Like Normal Americans By Quoting the Bible, Shakira, and Others

The Russian trolls seem to have a sense of humor.

  • By Nikhil Sonnad, Quartz

Paypal Was Used to Launder Russian Trolls’ Money During the 2016 Election

They used this cash to pay for inflammatory ads.

  • By Max de Haldevang, Quartz

Congress Cooks Up Ideas to Secure Elections, Then Came the Mueller Indictments

Congressional Democrats are pushing for a hearing to discuss election security improvements while demanding further action in the wake of indictments leveled by Special Counsel Robert Mueller.

  • By Heather Kuldell and Joseph Marks
FBI Director Christopher Wray, accompanied by CIA Director Mike Pompeo, right, speaks at a Senate Select Committee on Intelligence hearing on worldwide threats, Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2018. FBI Director Christopher Wray, accompanied by CIA Director Mike Pompeo, right, speaks at a Senate Select Committee on Intelligence hearing on worldwide threats, Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2018.

Trump Has Never Asked Us to Stop Russian Election Meddling, Intelligence Chiefs Testify

The intelligence community agrees Russia will try to influence the 2018 midterms, but they’re less clear on how to stop the Kremlin.

  • By Patrick Tucker, Defense One

FEC Will Take Up Online Political Ad Transparency

The Federal Election Commission may soon require online ads that urge viewers to vote for or against a specific candidate to include a disclaimer about where they originated.

  • By Jack Corrigan

Despite Progress, Social Platforms Still Not Terrorist-Proof

Lawmakers grilled Facebook, YouTube and Twitter over their efforts to block extremist content on their platforms.

  • By Jack Corrigan