Threat Actors In Russia, China, and Iran Targeting Local Communities In The U.S – New Report

A groundbreaking report from the Alliance for Securing Democracy (ASD) at the German Marshall Fund has revealed a disturbing trend: foreign threat actors from Russia, China, and Iran are increasingly targeting local communities across the United States.

These operations aim to manipulate public opinion, exacerbate divisions, and undermine trust in democratic institutions.

Using sophisticated tactics, including artificial intelligence (AI), social media manipulation, and impersonation, these actors have infiltrated state and local discourse in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia.

While analysts at the German Marshall Fund presents Russia, China, and Iran as key players in global disinformation efforts, each employing distinct tactics to manipulate public opinion.

Russia remains the most active, with 26 documented cases aimed at polarizing Americans through divisive topics like immigration and election integrity.

Examples include a 2014 Kremlin-backed petition for Alaska’s secession and a fabricated 2024 video alleging voter suppression in Wisconsin.

Meanwhile, China focuses on strategic propaganda, as seen in Arizona (2023), where state-linked entities infiltrated U.S. news outlets, and Hawaii (2023), where AI-generated images spread false conspiracy theories about the Maui wildfires.

Iran’s campaigns often target individuals and institutions, such as the 2020 voter intimidation emails in Florida and 2024 fake news targeting Arab-American communities in Michigan.

Using the DISARM Red framework, the report categorizes these operations into four key tactics: crafting divisive narratives, establishing fake personas, disseminating manipulated media, and amplifying content through bots and trolls.

AI: A Game-Changer

Generative AI has enabled adversaries to scale their operations rapidly. From fabricating deepfake videos of political figures to generating realistic images and text-based propaganda, AI tools have become central to these campaigns.

For instance:-

• In Maryland (2024), an unknown actor used AI to impersonate a Ukrainian official during a Zoom call with Senator Ben Cardin.
• In Massachusetts (2024), Russian operatives employed AI-generated text and videos on fake news sites to smear Ukraine.

The report underscores that no state is immune to foreign interference. Swing states like Pennsylvania and Georgia are frequent targets during elections, but smaller states like Wyoming and Vermont are also exploited for niche narratives.

These disinformation campaigns actively erode public trust in institutions by spreading conspiracy theories, such as falsely linking Maine lobsters to COVID-19 origins.

They also exploit tragedies like wildfires and train derailments to push political agendas and create division. Moreover, they undermine confidence in election processes by fabricating evidence, further fueling skepticism and distrust among the public.

The ASD calls on local leaders and citizens to recognize the growing threat of information manipulation and take action to strengthen resilience.

Public awareness must be enhanced to expose foreign interference tactics, while collaboration between federal agencies, state governments, and private-sector platforms is crucial for a united defense.

Additionally, the development of AI-driven detection tools is essential to counter the misuse of generative AI.

As adversaries continue to refine their strategies, protecting America’s information ecosystem is more critical than ever.

The ASD report serves as a call to action for policymakers, tech companies, and citizens to safeguard democracy at every level, from national institutions to local communities.

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