As America reaches election day in November, the 2024 presidential race has been found to be a topic of the utmost importance to not only Americans but foreign actors. As influence of U.S Policy making continues to increase on a global scale, the election of a new president has enticed foreign entities to meddle in U.S elections in hopes of tipping the political scale to their favor, leaving many Americans worried that their once strong democracy is beginning to erode. 

In recent findings by Microsoft, an intelligence report depicted a new cybersecurity threat by Iran. Iranian actors can be seen to be accelerating their online activity within recent months as a means to influence the U.S. election through the spread of misinformation targeting presidential campaigns.

 In recent months there has been an influx in the creation of fake news sites by Iranian actors. In one instance an Iranian group created a surplus of websites that posed as U.S. based news websites targeting U.S voters that identified on positioning sides of the political spectrum (Swenson). As well as other fake news websites being created to identify with a left and or right leaning audience, based on creating misinformation, or “fake news” as one website aimed to lessen the credibility of presidential candidate nominee Donald Trump through stating that he use misuses drugs, while another website aimed to appeal to a right winged audience as it centered on issues regarding LGBTQ issues and the topic of gender- affirming surgery.

 Iranian groups have also used their digital media websites to impersonate activists. The impersonation of political activists manipulates public opinion and U.S. political operations on a closer framework by reaching a targeted audience under a false sense of credibility. Russia has also notably placed an importance on the U.S presidential election, due to their past interferences in U.S elections. A watchful eye has been placed on Russian President Vladimir Putin and  the Russian government by U.S authorities as well as the U.S. populus.

 Comments from Putin suggested his support for democratic presidential nominee, Kamala Harris. Putin’s comments exploit the U.S polarization between political parties and creates chaos and mistrust within both parties. Both the Iranian and Russian interference in U.S political campaigns demonstrate how the digital media and technology can be used to benefit foreign states and their political agenda.

As Iran has shifted their political tactics to focus on undermining U.S political campaigns and elections, it can be seen to be a calculated political move. Foreign interference has been seen to be a prominent issue within American politics. In Varol’s, “Stealth Authoritarianism” he addresses how serious foreign influence can be on the American government. Varol’s work highlights how foreign interference can exploit the legal and political systems designed to protect democracy, a tactic often seen within democratic erosion and the rise of authoritarianism. Varol notes that foreign influence is a tactic used due to how it may not always be straightforward or uncovered easily, and can come in the forms of funding campaigns, disinformation campaigns, media manipulation, cyber-attacks, and etc.

Historically the U.S government has taken steps such as the, “FARA” or Foreign Agents Registration Act, to minimize foreign intervention in U.S. elections through establishing limitations on foreign nationals as well as instituting campaign finance laws to curb foreign influence and or foreign-funded campaigns. Though it can be seen with the new emerging digital world foreign interference in American political campaigns and elections has never been easier.

 Iran’s effort in influencing the U.S presidential election seemingly coincided with multiple grievances held towards the U.S by the Iranian government such as the U.S ending of the nuclear deal, imposed sanctions, the killing of an iranian general, as well as tensions between Iran and the U.S backed Israeli government. Avril Haines, the Director of National Intelligence, stated that the Iranian government has expressed their support of American, most notably student-led protests over the on-going war in Gaza, encouraging the surge in protests by posing as political activists  and providing financial support (Swenson). Foreign influence is becoming embedded into American society through a range of cybersecurity related operations which targeted U.S. electoral campaigns and nominees in an attempt to shape American public opinion and policy decisions. 

 The growing use of technology and digital media as a way for news to reach a greater audience has also increased the threat of potential foreign influence within U.S political secures. Iran’s multi-level interference in the current U.S. political circle has depicted how the technology can be used as a tool to target America’s democratic system. The uncovering of Iranian interference in the 2024 U.S presidential campaigns can bring many to wonder how many more foreign actors have dipped their toe into American politics and how their influence may impact the 2024 presidential outcome and other facets of American democracy.