Deepfake videos spread false FBI warnings ahead of US election
Deepfake videos falsely impersonating the FBI, CBC News, and Fox News spread ahead of the 2024 US election, making claims about terrorist threats and election fraud. US intelligence agencies attributed the videos to a Russian disinformation group and warned they aimed to undermine confidence in electoral processes and potentially incite violence.
What happened
Several deepfake videos attributed to the FBI, CBC News, and Fox News circulated in the days before the 2024 US election. One video falsely claimed the FBI was advising people to vote remotely due to a potential terrorist attack. Other videos made false claims about election fraud and manipulation of voter rolls.
Researchers at Antibot4Navalny, a group tracking Russian disinformation, attributed the videos to a Russian disinformation group with a history of imitating international media and US government institutions. The account posting the videos on X was subsequently suspended.
Reported impact
The FBI stated in a Tuesday statement that the videos were 'inauthentic' and aimed at deceiving the public with false content about threat assessments. The agency said such attempts 'seek to undermine our democratic process and erode public confidence in the election system.'
US intelligence agencies accused Russia of actively engaging in spreading disinformation in seven key swing states that could determine the presidential race. The agencies warned that these attempts could incite violence, including against election officials.
Index analysis
The deepfake videos used techniques including barcode-like symbols linking to legitimate news outlets to appear authentic. The videos targeted critical election integrity concerns, aiming to undermine confidence in electoral processes days before voting.
Governance controls
The account distributing the deepfake videos on X was suspended. The FBI and Office of the Director of National Intelligence issued a joint statement identifying the videos as inauthentic and warning about their origins.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.