“Which Countries Are Trying to Influence the U.S. Election?”
Recently, Donald Trump’s campaign claimed that Iranian hackers targeted them, suggesting that foreign interference might be a major issue in this year’s U.S. election.
As the outcome of the election is significant for many nations, some might try to sway the result or create chaos. America’s open system and advanced technology provide many ways for interference.
National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan stated that adversaries see U.S. elections as opportunities to disrupt and influence, and the government is actively working to counter these efforts.
The three countries most often mentioned in this context are Iran, Russia, and China, according to BBC.
Iran: Iran is reportedly becoming more aggressive in its efforts to influence U.S. politics. U.S. intelligence officials say Iran is trying to create division and undermine American democracy.
Microsoft and Google have noted that Iranian hackers targeted both Trump’s and Biden’s campaigns. Iran’s motives are likely linked to its opposition to Trump’s past actions, such as withdrawing from the Iran nuclear deal.
Russia: Russia is seen as a major threat to U.S. elections, with a history of using various tactics to sway public opinion. Russia’s interference in the 2016 election was significant, involving hacking and leaking Democratic Party emails.
Although less visible now, Russia is believed to be skilled in digital operations and might prefer Trump, given his previous friendly stance towards Moscow.
China: China’s role is less clear. While it has hacked U.S. campaigns for intelligence, it is less likely to actively influence the election outcome compared to Iran and Russia.
China may not have a clear preference for a candidate and might avoid interference to not provoke the U.S. Beijing is more focused on targeting specific candidates based on their positions on issues important to China.
All three countries deny any interference efforts. The challenge for the U.S. includes distinguishing between genuine foreign influence and domestic free speech, with new technologies like artificial intelligence making these efforts more sophisticated.
Despite improved defenses and media caution, the potential for interference remains high, with the election’s importance adding to the risks.
Credit : BBC
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c86ljyv38vxo