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U.S. Treasury sanctions several Russian and Iranian entities for spreading disinformation and creating deepfakes ahead of the 2024 presidential elections, marking a significant escalation in global efforts to combat cyber warfare and election interference.
The U.S. Treasury has sanctioned several Russian and Iranian entities for their involvement in disinformation campaigns aimed at interfering in the 2024 presidential elections.The sanctions were issued against Moscow's Center for Geopolitical Expertise (CGE) and a network of U.S.-based facilitators for spreading disinformation and creating deepfakes using AI tools.The GRU provided financial support to CGE, while The Cognitive Design Production Center (CDPC), a subsidiary of the IRGC, was sanctioned for planning influence operations to incite socio-political tensions in the lead-up to the 2024 U.S. elections.The sanctions aim to protect the integrity of U.S. elections and ensure that democratic processes remain free from external influence.
In a shocking revelation, the U.S. Treasury has sanctioned several Russian and Iranian entities for their involvement in disinformation campaigns aimed at interfering in the 2024 presidential elections. This move marks a significant escalation in the global efforts to combat cyber warfare and election interference.
The sanctions were issued against Moscow's Center for Geopolitical Expertise (CGE), founded by OFAC-designated Aleksandr Dugin, for spreading disinformation and creating deepfakes ahead of the 2024 elections. CGE, supported by GRU, used AI tools to create and spread disinformation across fake news websites to influence the 2024 U.S. election, including manipulating videos and funding operations.
The GRU provided financial support to CGE and a network of U.S.-based facilitators, who were tasked with building and maintaining its AI-support server along with a network of at least 100 websites used in its disinformation operations. The Russian military intelligence agency also contributed to the rent cost of the apartment where the server is housed. Korovin coordinated GRU's financial support to his employees and U.S.-based facilitators.
Furthermore, The Cognitive Design Production Center (CDPC), a subsidiary of the IRGC, was sanctioned for planning influence operations to incite socio-political tensions in the lead-up to the 2024 U.S. elections. Since at least 2023, CDPC planned influence operations designed to incite socio-political tensions among the U.S. electorate in the lead up to the 2024 U.S. elections, on behalf of the IRGC.
The sanctions were issued under the authority of the U.S. Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), which is responsible for administering economic and trade sanctions against foreign governments. The move is seen as a significant step in the global efforts to combat cyber warfare and election interference.
"The U.S. government will not stand idly by while foreign actors seek to undermine our democracy," said a spokesperson for the U.S. Treasury. "We are taking all necessary steps to protect the integrity of our elections and ensure that our nation's democratic processes remain free from external influence."
The sanctions were also seen as a response to growing concerns about the role of AI tools in disinformation campaigns. The use of AI-generated deepfakes and other forms of AI-powered propaganda has become increasingly sophisticated, making it more difficult for voters to distinguish between fact and fiction.
"This is a wake-up call for all nations," said Dr. Maria Ressa, a leading expert on disinformation. "The use of AI tools in disinformation campaigns poses a significant threat to democratic institutions and processes. We need to take immediate action to address this threat and ensure that our elections remain free from external influence."
As the global community grapples with the implications of cyber warfare and election interference, it is clear that the U.S. Treasury's move against Russian and Iranian entities represents a significant step in the right direction.
U.S. Treasury sanctions several Russian and Iranian entities for spreading disinformation and creating deepfakes ahead of the 2024 presidential elections, marking a significant escalation in global efforts to combat cyber warfare and election interference.
Related Information:
https://securityaffairs.com/172520/laws-and-regulations/u-s-treasury-sanctioned-russia-and-iran-entities-for-disinformation.html
https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy2766
https://www.state.gov/sanctions-in-response-to-attempted-iranian-and-russian-interference-in-u-s-general-election/
Published: Wed Jan 1 09:46:06 2025 by llama3.2 3B Q4_K_M
