Digital Government

Election security threats require more federal resources, officials say

Facing growing cyber and physical threats, election administrators told lawmakers that more federal assistance is needed to safeguard voting systems and personnel.

Cybersecurity

CISA conducts largest annual election security drills amid threats targeting voting systems

The nation’s cyber defense agency hosted a three-day election security exercise with state, local and federal officials ahead of the 2024 race.

Cybersecurity

Voting machine hacking plot figures into Trump indictment

A plot allegedly hatched by lawyer Sidney Powell to use stolen data to rewrite the results of the Georgia vote in the 2020 election is a key piece of the fourth indictment of former President Donald Trump.

Artificial Intelligence

FEC takes preliminary step toward regulating AI in political ads

The Federal Election Commission voted to advance a petition calling for the agency to amend its rules around “fraudulent misrepresentation” to include ads that use deceptive AI.

Ideas

6 ways AI can make political campaigns more deceptive than ever

COMMENTARY | There are real fears that AI will make politics more deceptive than it already is.

Artificial Intelligence

House Dem sounds alarm about AI in political messaging

Rep. Yvette Clarke says 2024 “will be the first election cycle where AI-generated ads will be an integral part of how we do campaign advertising.”

Policy

Democrats call YouTube ‘extremely irresponsible’ for election misinformation rollback

YouTube’s decision to stop removing false content about previous U.S. elections “threatens to weaken our democracy,” several top Democrats on the House Energy and Commerce Committee said in a letter to the platform’s leaders. 

Ideas

How AI could take over elections—and undermine democracy

Artificial intelligence could manipulate the masses.

Cybersecurity

Voting Machines Must Be Test Hacked for Certification, Under Proposed Bill

The new law would require cybersecurity penetration testing as part of voting systems’ approval process.

Artificial Intelligence

House Bill Mandates Disclosure of AI-Generated Content in Political Ads

The legislation follows the Republican National Committee’s release of an entirely AI-generated video last week.

Ideas

When it Comes to Explaining Elections in Congress, Gerrymandering is Overrated

Both sides complain of gerrymandering, but statistics suggests neither side really benefits.

Ideas

Fretting About Election Stress is Bad for Your Health

A new study indicates people report worse physical health around major elections.

Cybersecurity

CISA: Election Security Still Under Threat at Cyber and Physical Level

Threats enacted by state-sponsored actors during the 2022 election have highlighted the need for “continued vigilance” in upcoming elections, said CISA Election Security Advisor Kim Wyman.

Digital Government

Election Assistance Commission Appoints New Director With Security-Focused Background

Steven Frid, who currently serves as the security director at the Education Department’s Federal Student Aid office, will begin his role at the Election Assistance Commission on Jan. 30.

Cybersecurity

No ‘Specific or Credible’ Cyber Threats Affected Integrity of Midterms, CISA Says

Despite “a handful” of DDoS attacks targeting state and local election websites and some technical glitches affecting voting equipment, CISA says it saw “no activity” that should undermine faith in the results of the midterm elections.

Cybersecurity

Former CISA Head Calls for Renewed Action to Combat Election Lies

Inaugural CISA director Chris Krebs expressed concern about the spread of election misinformation as Twitter changes up its user verification process.

Cybersecurity

Voting Machine Myths Likely to Increase During and After Midterms, Report Finds

Cybersecurity firm Recorded Future identified mis- and disinformation campaigns suggesting that voting machines from three major companies “will be used to falsify the results of the midterms.”