Top U.S. intelligence officials say Russia, China and Iran are continuing to target voters in the U.S. with disinformation and propaganda related to the upcoming presidential election.

The Kremlin is turning to unwitting Americans and commercial public relations firms in Russia to spread disinformation about the U.S. presidential race, top intelligence officials said Monday, detailing the latest efforts by America’s adversaries to shape public opinion ahead of the 2024 election.

The warning comes after a tumultuous few weeks in U.S. politics that have forced Russia, Iran and China to revise some of the details of their propaganda playbook. What hasn’t changed, intelligence officials said, is the determination of these nations to seed the internet with false and incendiary claims about American democracy to undermine faith in the election.

“The American public should know that content that they read online — especially on social media — could be foreign propaganda, even if it appears to be coming from fellow Americans or originating in the United States,” said an official from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence who briefed reporters on condition of anonymity under rules set by the office of the director.

Russia continues to pose the greatest threat when it comes to election disinformation, authorities said, while there are indications that Iran is expanding its efforts and China is proceeding cautiously when it comes to 2024.

  • the post of tom joad@sh.itjust.works
    10·
    5 months ago

    ‘Americans are the most heavily propagandized folks in the world’ - a phrase I’ve seen bandied about recently that seems more true the more i look. I think at this point in history, Americans (and all others) should suspect that all (privately owned by the capitalist class) media they consume is trying to manipulate their opinion somehow.

    Surely no one will argue FOX isn’t propaganda right? so we know it exists and is allowed (even celebrated by politicians!) on American soil.

    I don’t think it’s too big a jump to suspect other billionaires wouldn’t want to own the narrative and shape people’s perception.

    So if you open that website or turn on the TV news and you ain’t going in expecting to have some fast talking salesman sell you a lemon, if you’re not prepared, youre gonna get fleeced

    • Serinus@lemmy.world
      1·
      5 months ago

      And that’s why you should trust social media and youtube videos over established, reputable news sources.

    • Angry_Autist (he/him)@lemmy.world
      12·
      5 months ago

      I mean its a good soundbite but it isn’t true. Russia and China’s citizens swim in an ocean of it every day, we just wade up to our necks in it.