If the pro-Palestinian protests in April and May at over 60 American university campuses seemed too well-organized to be spontaneous, your perception was well-founded.
National Intelligence Director Avril Haines said Tuesday in Washington that the protests were encouraged and in some cases financed by the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Congressman August Pfluger, who represents the Permian Basin in the 11th Congressional District, said he was “deeply concerned by the growth of violent transnational movements whose overarching goals seem to be to destabilize the West.
“I welcome DNI Haines’ transparency in highlighting foreign malign influence efforts directed by Tehran to stoke disruptive protests and anti-Semitism in the U.S.,” the San Angelo Republican said Tuesday. “I have introduced legislation to strip visas from foreign nationals who are rioting or assaulting police officers.
“In the coming months Americans should heed this warning and remain vigilant to foreign-directed influence operations.”
Campus protests also took place in The Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Australia and Canada.
The Associated Press said groups linked to Tehran had used social media platforms popular in the U.S. to pose as online activists, encourage protests and provide financial support to some protest groups.
“Iran is becoming increasingly aggressive in their foreign influence efforts, seeking to stoke discord and undermine confidence in our democratic institutions,” Haines said.
This effort noted by the top U.S. intelligence official is the latest evidence that America’s adversaries are harnessing the internet to warp domestic debates and widen political divides ahead of the Nov. 5 presidential election, the AP said.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said it was important to warn Americans to help them “guard against efforts by foreign powers to take advantage of or co-opt their legitimate protest activities.”
Jean-Pierrre also warned Iran that “meddling in our politics and seeking to stoke division is unacceptable.”
In recent years Iran, Russia and China have all refined their abilities to use online bots and networks of fake social media accounts to amplify divisive debates within the U.S.
In most cases these influence campaigns exploit existing social conflicts and Haines noted Tuesday that Americans participating in protests over Israel’s conduct in Gaza have a right to express their views. But she said Americans need to know when foreign actors are trying to meddle in domestic American politics.
“Americans who are being targeted by this Iranian campaign may not be aware that they are interacting with or receiving support from a foreign government,” Haines said.
Demonstrations over Israel’s offensives in Gaza emerged on university campuses across the country and quickly became a factor in political campaigns, prompting concerns about anti-Semitism and the role of “outside agitators” as well as worries about a larger regional conflict between Israel and Iran.
Iran isn’t the only nation seeking to influence American discourse ahead of the 2024 election, the AP said. During a briefing with reporters Tuesday, intelligence officials said America’s adversaries will look to harness the latest artificial intelligence to dramatically expand the reach and penetration of election misinformation.
The officials from agencies including the FBI and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence spoke with reporters on condition of anonymity under ground rules set by the office of the director.
Russia remains the greatest threat, according to the officials, who said the Kremlin is mounting a government-wide effort to spread election disinformation ahead of the 2024 race. Russia has already sought to exploit debates over immigration as part of its strategy to undermine international support for Ukraine.
Russia is also seeking to cover its tracks by laundering its disinformation through supposedly independent news sites and American influencers who may not know they are parroting Russian talking points, the AP said.
While China mounted a sprawling disinformation campaign ahead of Taiwan’s recent election, that nation has been more cautious in its use of disinformation targeting Americans this year. Officials said Tuesday that China shows no indication that it will try to influence the presidential race.
China, one official said, doesn’t see a benefit in choosing between candidates who are both seen as trying to curb its power.
Sen. Mark Warner, chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, has said the U.S. may be more vulnerable to foreign disinformation this year than it was before the 2020 election. He thanked the intelligence community for holding Tuesday’s briefing as a way to inform the public about the threat.
“Social media, in particular, continues to be a popular vector for foreign covert influence attempts and our adversaries remain focused on stoking social, racial and political tensions among Americans,” said Warner, D-Virginia.
