Fake bomb threats, videos and FBI press releases aim to disrupt Election Day

Authorities reported several instances of false information attempting — and in some cases briefly succeeding — to disrupt Election Day.

The FBI warned in a news release Tuesday morning that false election information was being spread by misusing the agency’s name and insignia. The incidents included a fake video of a fake news clip and a fake FBI press release.

“The fake news clip falsely reports that the FBI purportedly stated that Americans should vote ‘remotely’ at polling stations because of the high threat of terrorism,” the press release said.

The FBI said the phony video “does not accurately represent the current threat situation or security of the polling location.”

RELATED STORY | The FBI unveils its 2024 “command post” to combat election threats and crime

In the second case of false election information, the FBI stated: “A fake video containing a fake FBI press release alleges that management at five prisons in the swing states of Pennsylvania, Arizona and Georgia manipulated inmate voting and colluded with a political party .”

The FBI did not say where this fake content came from.

In Georgia, polling stations where authorities had also reported fake bomb threats were briefly disrupted by misinformation.

Georgia Foreign Minister Brad Raffensperger said in a news conference Tuesday morning that he was aware of “some threats that were of Russian origin,” adding that officials did not consider them “viable.”

The fake bomb threats were sent to polling places in two Georgia counties, Fulton and Clayton.

A Georgia election official told Scripps News’ Disinformation Desk that the threats were sent via an email address that has been used in the past. The official said local police evacuated these locations to conduct a search.

RELATED STORY | Bomb threats to polling stations in Arizona are believed to be related to Russia

According to the FBI, several other unreliable bomb threats were sent to polling places in other states such as Arizona, many from email domains that originated in Russia.

“Russia is the most active threat,” the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and the FBI said in a joint statement ahead of Election Day.

“Russia-linked influencers in particular are producing videos and creating fake articles to undermine the legitimacy of the election, instill fear among voters about the electoral process, and create the impression that Americans are using violence against each other for political reasons.”

Cait Conley, senior adviser to the CISA director, said during an election security press conference on Tuesday that the agency expects continued activity against swing states by foreign actors Russia and Iran on Election Day and in the coming weeks.

Conley said some disruptive events such as power outages, technical problems or extreme weather conditions are expected. She urged voters to contact state and local officials to “take a stand against the noise of the disinformation fire department.”