All articles tagged with #foreign interference
The US State Department pressured multiple governments to withdraw sponsorship from the #Disinfo2026 conference in Vilnius, Lithuania. Canada, Lithuania, and the EU’s diplomatic service removed their logos after the event included panels framing the US as a foreign information manipulation threat. France remains the sole government sponsor, while the US argues the terminology is inappropriate for an ally.
U.S. intelligence agencies are actively monitoring Russian and other foreign attempts to sow distrust in the 2026 midterms. However, state officials report that the Trump administration’s dismantling of federal election security infrastructure is hindering their ability to counter these threats. Simultaneously, the White House is deploying unprecedented federal resources, including taxpayer-funded ads and cash payments, to influence the outcome, creating a dual crisis of external sabotage and internal partisan manipulation.
Brazil’s attorney general has initiated a criminal investigation into alleged US interference in the upcoming presidential election, following reports that the Trump administration sought to redirect $175 million from the State Department’s human rights fund to support far-right causes, including a $1 million grant targeting Brazil’s Supreme Court. With the election scheduled for October 4, Messias condemned the actions as an intolerable violation of sovereignty, while US Democrats have demanded assurances that Washington will respect the outcome.
The United States suspended consular services in Brazil, prompting Australia to close its embassy, two days before the presidential election. While Washington cited unspecified security concerns, Brazilian authorities and Lula’s allies alleged a coordinated psychological operation to influence the vote. Federal police conducted preventive searches but found no evidence of a direct threat, while intelligence agencies warned of a 'hybrid war' aimed at suppressing turnout.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered a one-day military stand-down to facilitate voting in the upcoming midterms, a move he framed as ensuring service members have the time to cast ballots. This directive coincides with new orders to use cyber capabilities against foreign election interference, though critics note the administration has simultaneously removed key voting assistance tools for military personnel.
Finnish authorities are investigating a series of suspected break-ins at the homes of members of parliament, with police noting that no items were stolen but signs of intrusion were left. Prime Minister Petteri Orpo suggested a foreign actor may be responsible, citing recent Russian election interference in other European countries, while President Alexander Stubb condemned the incidents as potential attacks on democracy. The cases, which began approximately one year ago, have prompted heightened security alerts for all legislators ahead of spring elections.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth signed a memo on September 22 directing U.S. Cyber Command and combat support agencies to use advanced intelligence and cyber capabilities to identify and neutralize foreign interference in the 2026 midterm elections. The directive, released five weeks before the vote, mandates coordination with the Department of Homeland Security to protect election infrastructure. While officials describe this as a standard defensive measure, critics note the timing follows significant downsizing of intelligence centers and questions regarding past foreign meddling assessments.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has signed a memo directing US Cyber Command and combat support agencies to deploy advanced intelligence and cyber capabilities to identify and neutralize foreign interference in the upcoming 2026 midterm elections. The directive, issued approximately five weeks before the vote, mandates coordination with the Department of Homeland Security to counter cyber threats to election infrastructure. While the Pentagon frames this as a standard protective measure, critics note that the second Trump administration has previously downsized key intelligence centers and questioned past assessments of foreign meddling, raising concerns about the timing and scope of these new operations.
Historians and Brazilian officials say the US is reviving Cold War–style meddling ahead of Brazil’s 2026 presidential race, using tariffs, designations of major crime groups as foreign terrorist organizations, visa denials, and high-level diplomacy to tilt the contest toward Bolsonaro and weaken Lula, echoing CIA-backed efforts to topple Goulart in the 1960s.
A 27-year-old Russian-Australian man who trained in Russia, later joined Ukrainian forces, is charged with foreign interference for allegedly passing or attempting to pass Ukrainian military information to Russian intelligence; the case carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
The Bulwark argues that Donald Trump poses a greater risk to U.S. elections than foreign actors, citing a National Intelligence Council report that foreign powers did not alter the technical voting process in 2020, while noting that foreign powers spread claims to undermine confidence. The piece contends Trump’s primetime address and ongoing rhetoric amount to domestic election influence that challenges the legitimacy of elections, highlighting weak polling for Trump and GOP leaders who embrace his narrative, and urging a pro-democracy effort to uphold trust in democratic processes.
President Donald Trump is set to deliver a rare primetime speech in which he will renew the claim that the 2020 election was rigged, highlighting findings his aides say show foreign interference in the race.
Japan is establishing its first centralized intelligence apparatus since World War II, transforming the Cabinet Intelligence and Research Office into a National Intelligence Council and a National Intelligence Bureau to coordinate gathering, analysis, and operations. The reform aims to counter threats from North Korea, China and Russia, improve interagency coordination, and close legal gaps for anti-espionage and influence campaigns, with Western allies reportedly advising on the setup. While it stops short of a U.S.-style CIA, the move signals a clear shift toward Japan taking greater control of its own intelligence while facing domestic debate over surveillance and defense spending.
France's Viginum accuses Israeli-linked BlackCore of running a coordinated disinformation operation against Scotland's First Minister John Swinney and the SNP ahead of the Holyrood election, using hundreds of inauthentic accounts to push comments on Swinney's and SNP posts; the SNP won the election and Swinney was re-elected, while BlackCore's actions are under scrutiny and Israel's embassy awaits France's findings.
With an August 29 vote on restarting EU accession talks looming, Iceland’s foreign minister warns of a Brexit‑like moment driven by misinformation, foreign interference and AI-fuelled manipulation, risking influence from Russia and other actors. The government argues EU membership could bolster security and integration, while opponents fear fishing, sovereignty and disrupted ties with the US. Polls show a tight race; a yes would restart talks and potentially lead to a second referendum if a deal is reached. The presidency and experts stress the need to counter AI-driven misinformation, and Iceland maintains strong US ties alongside broader alliances.