In the run-up to the 2016 election, many Americans feared that digital interlopers were working to undermine American democracy. Certainly, there was much misinformation on Facebook and Twitter during that election season, but, even if it was the work of Russian operatives, they probably only accounted for a tiny fraction of the overall content. And they didn’t sway the vote, because most people who consumed the disinformation were already committed to one candidate or another and lived in states that went solidly for either side.
However, the threat to democracy from foreign interference is real, and it’s likely to become more pervasive as elections get closer. In our new report, we argue that digital interference takes three forms: informational measures, in which online discussions are surreptitiously manipulated to promote particular political interests; technical measures, in which governments restrict access to news sources and communication tools; and legal measures, in which authorities use criminal law to punish regime opponents and chill free speech.
These threats are exacerbated by the spread of politicized disinformation, rising xenophobia and anti-immigrant rhetoric, and a host of state policies aimed at reducing voter turnout in marginalized communities. Moreover, the recent Supreme Court decisions rolling back voting rights protections are threatening the integrity of America’s electoral process. These factors make it all the more important that we adopt a comprehensive strategy to combat digital election interference and protect voters. To that end, we recommend a “whole-of-government” approach to countering election cyberthreats and foreign influence operations.
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