election security - Tech News from Simmons Systems

Tech News from Simmons Systems

election security

A collection of 20 posts

New Bipartisan Bill Mandates Watermarks for AI Deepfakes

Congresswoman Yvette Clarke and Congressman Glenn Ivey introduce the DEEPFAKES Accountability Act of 2023 to combat AI disinformation. The legislation requires digital watermarks on synthetic media and criminalizes the distribution of malicious, unlabeled deepfakes.

iranian hackers

US Charges Three Iranian Hackers for Targeting Trump Campaign and Election

The U.S. Justice Department charges three Iranian nationals with hacking the Trump presidential campaign to influence the 2024 election and retaliate for the 2020 killing of General Qasem Soleimani.

AI Deepfake Robocall Mimicking Biden Signals New Era of Election Disinformation

New Hampshire voters recently received an AI-generated robocall impersonating President Biden in an apparent attempt to suppress primary turnout. Experts warn this incident serves as an early warning for widespread AI-driven erosion of electoral trust.

President Trump Fires Cybersecurity Chief Chris Krebs Over Election Claims

President Trump terminates top cybersecurity official Christopher Krebs following Krebs' statements affirming the security of the 2020 election. Krebs maintains that his agency handled the election protection efforts correctly.

Trump Ousts Cybersecurity Chief Over Election Security Statement

President Trump fires CISA Director Chris Krebs after the agency declares the 2020 election the most secure in American history. Krebs previously leads an effort to debunk widespread voter fraud disinformation.

Trump Fires CISA Director Krebs Amid Wave of Top Cyber Departures

President Trump fires CISA Director Christopher Krebs following the agency's efforts to debunk election misinformation, sparking a wave of high-level cybersecurity departures. The sudden leadership vacancies leave critical government cyber posts empty during a vulnerable transition period.

Trump Fires Election Cybersecurity Chief for Debunking Fraud Claims

President Trump fires CISA Director Christopher Krebs after the agency publishes statements debunking false election fraud claims. Krebs insists his team did the work right and protected election integrity.

Microsoft Thwarts Foreign Cyberattacks Targeting 2020 US Presidential Campaigns

Microsoft reports that state-backed hacking groups from Russia, China, and Iran actively target the upcoming US presidential election. The company successfully blocks most of these cyberattacks and issues direct notifications to the impacted political campaigns.

Microsoft Unveils New Tools to Fight Deepfakes and Disinformation Campaigns

Microsoft introduces two new technologies to combat AI-manipulated media and false information as part of its Defending Democracy Program. The company aims to tackle the global spread of disinformation that threatens public health and democratic processes.

West Virginia Pioneers Smartphone Voting for Disabled Citizens

West Virginia prepares to become the first state to allow voters with physical disabilities to cast ballots via smartphone apps. The plan relies on technology like Voatz, though cybersecurity experts strongly warn against the security risks of online voting.

Iowa Caucus Results Delayed by App Coding Issue, Not a Hack

The Iowa Democratic Party blames a coding issue in its new reporting app for a significant delay in releasing caucus results. Officials confirm the underlying data remains sound and are manually verifying results against a paper trail.

Iowa Caucus App Failure Exposes Major Tech Vulnerabilities

The Iowa Democratic Party experiences a stunning technology failure during the caucus vote counting process, forcing a shift to manual counting. Voters now demand better contingency plans to protect future elections from both hacking and basic software malfunctions.

Iowa Caucus Results Delayed as Reporting App Fails on Election Night

A specialized smartphone app designed to report Iowa caucus results crashes due to quality control issues, causing major delays. Party officials confirm the paper trail remains secure and rule out a cyberattack as the cause.