CISA, FBI, ODNI Issue Guidance to Strengthen Election Security Against Foreign Interference

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, the FBI and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence have released new guidance in a collaborative effort to safeguard the U.S. election infrastructure.

Titled “Securing Election Infrastructure Against the Tactics of Foreign Malign Influence Operations,” the resource aims to equip election stakeholders with the knowledge to combat harmful foreign operations, CISA said.

The document outlines tactics used by foreign actors to manipulate public opinion and erode trust in the U.S. electoral process and provides recommendations for threat mitigation. The guidance also comes as artificial intelligence continues to make it easier and cheaper for foreign actors to create and spread disinformation.

Cait Conley, a senior adviser at CISA, said the election process serves as the foundation of American democracy and must be vigorously protected, stating the agency’s commitment to protecting the upcoming 2024 elections.

The sentiment is echoed by Joseph Rothrock, acting assistant director of the FBI’s counterintelligence division. Rothrock said the agencies have issued the guidance because awareness and cooperation are the cornerstones of their threat mitigation strategy, stressing that collaboration is important in effectively addressing the evolving threat landscape.