With the election less than 100 days away, security remains a top priority for the intelligence community — and all Americans have to do their part in ensuring the integrity of this event, according to the head of national counterintelligence.
National Counterintelligence and Security Center Director William Evanina said July 24 election security remains a top priority and the center remains committed to supporting the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI in their efforts to protect U.S. elections.
Evanina emphasized the importance of sharing insights about foreign threats with the public.
“We will strive to update Americans on the evolving election threat landscape while also safeguarding our intelligence sources and methods,” Evanina said.
As part of this goal, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence has been giving intelligence-based briefings on election security to the presidential campaigns, political committees and Congress. In these briefings, Evanina has worked to ensure fidelity, accountability, consistency and transparency while providing up-to-date information.
Recently, the intelligence community has seen adversaries seeking to compromise private communications of U.S. political campaigns, candidates and other targets. Adversaries are also working to harm election infrastructure.
Evanina said the intelligence community is continuing to monitor these attacks. He said the complicated and varied structure of elections across states has made it difficult for attackers to disrupt the election process.
One issue is adversaries’ continued use of social and traditional media in trying to sway voters’ opinions, shift policies, widen divisions and undermine confidence in U.S. democracy. For example, adversaries have used the coronavirus pandemic and recent protests as platforms for disinformation efforts.
NCSC is primarily concerned with China, Russia and Iran, Evanina said. China is taking steps to shape U.S. policy and pressure political figures who oppose China’s interests. Russia’s goal is to diminish the global influence of the U.S. through disinformation campaigns. Iran is trying to undermine U.S. democratic institutions and divide the country prior to the election.
“The American public has a role to play in securing the election, particularly in maintaining vigilance against foreign influence,” Evanina said. He then encouraged Americans to be critical of information and practice “good cyber hygiene.”
Until the election, Evanina and his team will continue to update Americans and key players on threats to the election and possible solutions.
“As Americans, we are all in this together,” Evanina said. “Our elections should be our own.”