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In a recent announcement, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) highlighted a growing threat to public confidence in the US electoral process. Malicious actors are reportedly spreading false claims that cyberattacks have compromised voter registration databases, aiming to sow distrust among voters.
However, the FBI’s statement brings to light an unsettling reality: while there is no evidence of any breaches in election infrastructure, most US voter information is accessible through public sources. The FBI clarified that “most US voter information can be purchased or otherwise legitimately acquired through publicly available sources,” which raises concerns about the overall protection of voter data.
Despite these vulnerabilities, the FBI assures that the integrity of the election process remains intact. The agency emphasizes that having access to voter registration data does not equate to a compromised database. “The reality is that having access to voter registration data is not by itself an indicator of a voter registration database compromise,” the announcement reads.
Adding to the troubling picture, a report from Incogni reveals that data brokers in the US expose information on 75% of US House members, underscoring the lack of comprehensive federal laws protecting personal data from collection and sale. Yet, the FBI and CISA assert that no cyberattack has ever prevented an election from occurring, affected voter registration processes, or skewed the election results.
“The acquisition of voter registration information by cyber actors in recent election cycles did not impact the voting process or election results,” the FBI stated. This indicates that while personal data may be readily available, the core mechanisms of US elections remain secure.
Voters are urged to critically evaluate claims about hacked or leaked voter information, particularly those disseminated through social media, unsolicited emails, or text messages. “Do not accept claims of intrusion at face value, and remember that these claims may be meant to influence public opinion and undermine the American people’s confidence in our democratic process,” cautioned the FBI.
