Iran Steps Up Online Campaign to Influence U.S. Elections: Microsoft Report

Iran Intensifies Online Activities to Influence US Election, Microsoft Reports

In a significant revelation, Microsoft disclosed on Friday that Iran is ramping up its online activities, seemingly aimed at influencing the upcoming U.S. presidential election. The technology giant’s findings suggest that Iranian actors have been engaged in a months-long campaign to create misleading news websites and impersonate political activists, thereby laying the groundwork for potential voter manipulation and increased societal division.

The latest threat intelligence report from Microsoft highlights how Iran is evolving its tactics in anticipation of an election that could have far-reaching global consequences. This report provides detailed insights beyond what U.S. intelligence officials have previously shared, offering specific instances of actions taken by Iranian groups. However, it stops short of clarifying Iran’s ultimate intentions, which appear focused on creating chaos rather than explicit interference.

In response to these allegations, Iranian officials have denied any plans to interfere with or launch cyberattacks during the U.S. presidential election. The report also underscores that other nations, notably Russia and China, are exploiting the pronounced political polarization within the United States to promote their own divisive narratives during this critical election year.

Microsoft’s report identifies four recent examples of Iranian activities that are expected to escalate as the November election approaches:

• Phishing Attempts: A group associated with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard targeted a high-ranking official from a U.S. presidential campaign with a phishing email in June. Shortly thereafter, the Iranian group attempted to access an account belonging to a former presidential candidate, although they were unsuccessful. Microsoft reported that the affected individuals were notified of these attempts.
• Creation of Fake News Sites: Another tactic involved an Iranian group developing websites that masquerade as legitimate U.S. news outlets, specifically targeting voters from opposing political factions. One such fake news site provocatively referred to U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump as “raving mad” and suggested he might be using drugs.

In a statement issued by Iran’s mission to the United Nations, officials asserted: “Iran has been the victim of numerous offensive cyber operations targeting its infrastructure, public service centers, and industries. Our cyber capabilities are defensive and proportional to the threats we face. Iran has neither the intention nor plans to launch cyber-attacks. The U.S. presidential election is an internal matter in which Iran does not interfere.”

Microsoft’s findings align with recent warnings from U.S. intelligence officials, who emphasize that foreign actors are determined to disseminate false information in the lead-up to the critical November vote.