FBI Director Christopher Wray has discussed the agency’s commitment to ensuring election security amid increasing threats of information warfare. Speaking at a roundtable discussion, Wray emphasized the importance of partnerships with public and private entities in combating misinformation and disinformation. He praised his collaboration with Paul Nakasone, the National Security director and commander of the United States Cyber Command.
Wray highlighted how advancements in generative AI and deepfake technology have made information warfare more sophisticated. Adversaries can now create fake personas with highly believable false messages and manufacture evidence that is harder to detect as false. To address this issue, the FBI is strengthening partnerships with the private sector, particularly with companies involved in generative AI. Collaboration with other government agencies and the research community is also a priority.
The FBI’s role, according to Wray, is not to interrogate the content of information but to identify and target the sources of hostile foreign intelligence services. Their focus is on uncovering fake personas created by foreign adversaries, such as Chinese, Russian, or Iranian intelligence services, who attempt to influence public opinion. The FBI works to expose these deceptive tactics and share the information with relevant parties.
Wray assured the public that the election system can be trusted, stating that most cyber threats target aspects of election infrastructure that do not impact the counting of votes. However, the concern lies in foreign adversaries creating chaos and undermining Americans’ confidence in the electoral process. Wray emphasized the importance of sharing information about adversaries’ misinformation and disinformation campaigns with both public and private entities, including classified information shared with state officials to anticipate threats.
Additionally, Wray discussed the significance of sharing information with the private sector to enhance their cybersecurity and protect critical infrastructure. He highlighted that about 85 percent of the country’s infrastructure is controlled by the private sector, making their involvement crucial in mitigating threats. While partnerships with the private sector and government agencies are strong, Wray emphasized that they cannot solely prevent threats. Sharing information with the private sector enables them to utilize their resources effectively and defend against intellectual property theft, cyber intrusions, and foreign malign influence.
During the discussion, Wray was asked about Section 702 of the U.S. Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), which is up for congressional review. He emphasized the importance of FISA as a vital tool to protect the United States against foreign espionage cyber attacks and terrorism threats. Wray acknowledged past compliance failures related to FISA and highlighted the reforms implemented to address them. He stressed the significance of renewing FISA, as losing it would jeopardize the country’s ability to safeguard critical infrastructure and businesses from foreign threats.
In conclusion, Director Christopher Wray reaffirmed the FBI’s commitment to election security and combating information warfare. Through partnerships with public and private entities, information sharing, and collaboration with other government agencies, the FBI aims to address threats and protect against foreign interference. Wray emphasized the importance of renewing FISA to maintain the country’s defense capabilities against cyber threats and terrorism.
