FBI says fake videos using its name are spreading election misinformation

The Federal Bureau of Investigation said Tuesday it was alert of 2 instances of its sanction and insignia being utilized to dispersed misinformation surrounding nan 2024 statesmanlike election. 

The videos were among a number of fabricated clips mimicking news organizations and officials circulated online connected Monday, spreading mendacious accusation astir information threats and predetermination integrity arsenic tens of millions of Americans caput to nan polls. The videos were apt created by a Russian disinformation group, researchers say.

Two videos, created to look for illustration they were released by nan FBI, made mendacious claims astir elector fraud, alleging that nan guidance of 5 prisons successful Pennsylvania, Georgia and Arizona, had rigged inmate voting and colluded pinch a governmental party. The videos are not authentic, and their contents are false, nan FBI said. 

Other fabricated videos person been shared successful caller days. One fabricated video, created to look for illustration a study from CBS News, falsely said nan FBI was advising group to "vote remotely" owed to a imaginable panic attack. No specified informing has been issued by U.S. officials and nary specified study has been produced by CBS News. The relationship that posted nan video connected nan societal media level X was suspended connected Monday afternoon.

"This video is not authentic and does not accurately correspond nan existent threat posture aliases polling location safety," nan FBI said successful a statement Tuesday. 

Another video was fabricated to look for illustration it was produced by Fox News.

The videos were apt created by nan aforesaid Russian disinformation group that released 2 additional fabricated FBI videos successful caller days, according to Antibot4Navalny, a corporate of researchers that tracks online Russian disinformation.

The group has a history of mimicking world news outlets and U.S. authorities entities. Many of their posts see QR codes that nexus to morganatic news outlets to make nan posts look authentic. The group published similar false claims about threats up of nan Olympics.

"Election integrity is among our highest priorities, and nan FBI is moving intimately pinch authorities and section rule enforcement partners to respond to predetermination threats and protect our communities arsenic Americans workout their correct to vote," nan FBI said Tuesday. "Attempts to deceive nan nationalist pinch mendacious contented astir FBI threat assessments and activities purpose to undermine our antiauthoritarian process and erode spot successful nan electoral system." 

In:
• Misinformation
• Politics
• Election
• 2024 Elections