Meta Raises Alarm on China, Russia, and Iran's Covert Influence Operations Ahead of 2024 Election

Meta officials have issued a warning that China, Russia, and Iran are coordinating "covert influence operations" ahead of the 2024 presidential election. They emphasize the need for greater information sharing between the American government, social media companies, and civil society to deter foreign actors from hijacking American policies. The report identifies Russia, Iran, and China as the most prolific sources of foreign interference campaigns and highlights the challenges posed by the rise of artificial intelligence. Meta stresses the importance of evidence-based reporting and information exchange to counter perception hacking and detect and disrupt foreign threats early. However, federal government threat sharing related to foreign election interference has been paused since July due to a First Amendment ruling. Meta cites examples of successful investigations and takedowns of covert influence operations in the past and highlights the specific focus of China on foreign policies and Russia on undermining support for Ukraine.