Russian Hacking Larger Than the Presidential Election

The Russian Hacking is Larger Than the U.S. Election, it's a Threat to National Security 

Erin Worley 

April 4. 2017 

The Trump Administration has repeatedly implicated that the Democrats' accusations of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election is illegitimate and a way of trying to shift the blame of the election loss. However, according to former FBI agent Clint Watts, the problem is much larger than the U.S. election. 

Last week, Watts testified before the Senate Intelligence Committee where he explained the way Russia spread fake news during the presidential election by using armies of Twitter bots disguised as swing-voter Republicans from the Midwest. He explained that the profiles of these socially engineered bots perfectly mimic the targeted people.

Watts explained the way these bots will attempt to connect with the administration by responding to tweets the president puts out, and broadcasting stories that are false, manipulated, or conspiracies. 

The example Watts used was that of President Trump's accusation that President Obama wiretapped Trump Tower. These bots will react to such accusations by putting out more conspiracy theories about the accusation, thus amplifying the problem. 

This issue, which Watts has been tracking for three years, undermines the cyber security of the entire U.S. 

As a country that relies on the internet for e-commerce, national security, and day-to-day life, refusing to properly delve into this issue because of the political polarity of it puts the entire country at risk. After all, if Russia can get in, who else does that open up the doors to? And what is the extent of what Russia has done? It's time to stop looking at this as a Democrats vs. Republicans issue, and begin looking at it as a threat to national security. 

According to the 2016 Worldwide Threat Assessment of the US Intelligence Community, Cyber and Technology was the number one threat of 2016, as cyber security is becoming an increasingly complex issue. Furthermore, Russia was listed as the number one regional threat actor of the year due to its, "assertive cyber posture based on its willingness to target critical infrastructure systems and conduct espionage operations even when detected and under increased public scrutiny. Russian cyber operations are likely to target US interests to support several strategic objectives." 

It's time to focus on building up our country by focusing on our collective safety as a nation, not continuing to view this issue as a political one.

NPR Article on Russian Hacking
DNI Threat Assessment 2016