The U.S. is less prepared to mitigate misinformation ahead of the 2024 election than it was during the 2020 cycle, the chair of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence said Tuesday.
Citing the expected deluge of misinformation powered by artificial intelligence and some cautious choices by Biden administration lawyers, Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., said he is concerned that this election cycle — which includes more than half of the global population — will face more threats than the last presidential election.
I am worried that we are less prepared for foreign intervention in our elections in 2024 than we were in 2020, Warner said during a cybersecurity summit in Washington, D.C.
Warner also noted that during the 2020 election, officials fighting foreign intervention at the Trump administration were better geared than current efforts.
Warner expressed frustration over a court case that directed CISA to cease alerting social media companies about misinformation, pointing the finger at the Biden administration lawyers for being too cautious.
He highlighted the escalating threat of AI-generated misinformation leading to potential consequences in the upcoming election, urging for stronger action to safeguard the integrity of the democratic process.
State and local officials have raised concerns about inadequate resources to tackle election threats amid fears of escalating foreign interference, emphasizing the urgent need for comprehensive strategies to counter misinformation and ensure election security in 2024.