Three Iranian nationals have been indicted for hacking into the campaign of former President Donald Trump, stealing emails, and sharing them with news media. The hackers, who are members of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, targeted an unidentified presidential candidate’s campaign prior to May. The stolen material from Trump’s campaign was sent to individuals associated with his Democratic rival. Iran has denied the accusations. U.S. officials have noted an increase in foreign interference efforts leading up to the recent election, with Iran, Russia, and China all attempting to influence the outcome.
The Justice Department announced an indictment against two RT employees for using a Tennessee-based company in covert projects to exert influence on American politics through social media platforms. These activities included sending funds to right-wing commentators. The impact of these operations on American voters remains unclear given the oversaturation of online content and the tendency for individuals to seek out information that aligns with their existing beliefs.
U.S. officials have emphasized the seriousness of foreign interference in elections and vow to continue investigating these actions leading up to future elections. They urge Americans to be skeptical of unvetted information and to protect their right to vote in free and fair elections. Foreign governments’ attempts to undermine American democracy and sow discord are seen as a threat that must be addressed with vigilance.
Photo credit
www.nbcnews.com
