FBI Clarifies Voter Data Safety Amid Disinformation Campaigns

The FBI and CISA issued a serious warning to the public, alerting them to false claims circulating about compromised voter data.

Foreign and domestic threat actors alike have launched several disinformation campaigns, ramping up their efforts to erode trust in US institutions by misrepresenting publicly available voter information as evidence of a cyberattack.

Voter registration data, which is publicly accessible, often gets repackaged and presented as a breach of election infrastructure. Threat actors use this technique to sow doubt.

Why the Claims Don’t Hold Up

Public voter registration data can be legally acquired from official sources, so its existence on public platforms shouldn’t be deemed a red flag. However, perpetrators weaponize it to drive false narratives of compromised election systems, a tactic that lacks foundation.

As the FBI and CISA explained, no evidence suggests any malicious cyber operation has compromised US election infrastructure in a way that could change votes, disrupt the electoral process, or alter voter registration.

The Mechanics of Disinformation

Disinformation campaigns are unfortunately a growing threat, aiming to manipulate public perception through deceit.

Malicious disinformation is a strategic tool threat actors often use to undermine the public’s confidence in government systems. The tactic’s simplicity is the key to its effectiveness: perpetrators present factual data (e.g., voter registration lists), alongside fabricated claims that it was hacked.

By doing so, threat actors intend to create panic, increase suspicion, and ultimately weaken trust in the democratic process.

Recent disinformation campaigns even involve distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks falsely associated with voting system failures. It’s worth noting that, while DDoS attacks could disrupt some services, they have no impact on the voting process itself.

Key Takeaways for the Public

Amidst the rising tide of malicious disinformation campaigns, the FBI and CISA urge voters to get informed and remain cautious. The guidelines recommended by the agencies’ joint advisory include:

• Viewing with skepticism any sensationalist posts on social media, texts, calls or emails concerning voter security
• Relying only on official government sources for information regarding any ongoing cybersecurity events
• Avoiding falling for claims about election interference unless supported by solid evidence
• Trusting local election officials and their websites for accurate relevant information

Uprise in Election-Themed Scams

Election-themed scams typically surge after pivotal political events like elections or presidential debates. In these scams, fraudsters target voters, often asking them to donate to a campaign supporting a candidate.

Voters are asked to pay a fee often disguised as a donation only to find out later that they’ve fallen victim to a scam. These scams exploit emotions and the heated political climate, weaponizing voters’ fear or enthusiasm during the election cycle.

Scamio can help you detect scams in a quick, effortless manner. The AI-powered chatbot lets you send any suspicious text, message, social media message, link, image, or QR code and provides you with an instant analysis of its perceived legitimacy. Additionally, it can detect scams from described scenarios; if you describe a situation, Scamio will assess whether it could be a scam. Scamio is free and available on Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp and your web browser. You can also help others stay safe by sharing Scamio with them in France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Romania, Australia and the UK.