NEW YORK (AP) — Iran is intensifying its online activities aimed at influencing the upcoming U.S. election, with Microsoft reporting Friday that Iranian actors targeted a presidential campaign through an email phishing attack. Over recent months, these actors have also been creating fake news sites and impersonating activists to sow division and potentially sway voters, particularly in key swing states.
Microsoft’s latest threat intelligence report highlights Iran’s evolving tactics, which are more advanced than previous efforts in U.S. campaign cycles, and provides specific examples of actions taken by Iranian groups. Although the report does not explicitly state Iran’s intentions beyond creating chaos, U.S. officials have suggested that Iran is particularly opposed to former President Donald Trump, motivated by his administration’s actions, including a 2020 strike on an Iranian general.
The report also underscores how Russia and China are exploiting U.S. political polarization to advance their own agendas during this critical election year. Among the Iranian activities cited, a group linked to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard targeted a high-ranking U.S. presidential campaign official with a phishing email in June and attempted to access the account of a former presidential candidate.
In addition to these cyberattacks, Iranian groups have been creating fake U.S.-based news sites aimed at influencing both left-leaning and right-leaning voters, as well as impersonating U.S. activists, likely preparing for further influence operations as the election nears. The report also mentions an incident in May where an Iranian group compromised an account belonging to a government employee in a swing state, though its connection to election interference remains unclear.
Despite these findings, Iran’s United Nations mission denied any intentions to interfere in the U.S. election, claiming their cyber capabilities are defensive in nature. Meanwhile, Microsoft continues to monitor how foreign adversaries are using generative AI technology to create lifelike fake content, although these AI-driven efforts have not yet had a significant impact.
The report’s findings align with warnings from U.S. intelligence officials, who have expressed concern about the ongoing foreign influence campaigns as the 2024 election approaches, particularly from Russia, Iran, and to a lesser extent, China.
