The election ecosystem is a prime target for cybersecurity threats, and will be no different in the 2024 U.S. election cycle. Although many security improvements have been made in recent years, malicious attackers continue to get more sophisticated in their access to personal information, mostly through phishing attacks.
As the 2024 U.S. elections approach, Yubico has partnered with Defending Digital Campaigns (DDC) to highlight a common bipartisan concern: the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on the electoral process, particularly election security. We conducted a new survey to find out. The survey, conducted by leading market research firm OnePoll, surveyed 2,000 registered voters and found that both Democrats (42%) and Republicans (49%) believe AI will have a negative impact on this year's election results. It became clear that he was thinking that.
Campaigns are built on trust, so potential threats include fraudulent emails, AI-generated content that spreads misinformation, and messages sent impersonating political candidates via social media accounts that interact directly with viewers. Hacking could have a negative impact on election campaigns.
The threat of AI in this year's election cycle raises significant concerns, particularly regarding the spread of misinformation through deepfakes and AI-generated content. An overwhelming majority of respondents expressed concern about AI-generated content being used to impersonate political candidates or create inauthentic content.
Additionally, this opinion was echoed by both Democrats (79%) and Republicans (80%).
In addition to the threat of AI-generated misinformation, cybersecurity remains a top concern for voters. This is highlighted by the apparent lack of trust in political movements' ability to protect personal information.
This lack of confidence is not unfounded, as evidenced by the number of respondents who reported receiving phishing attacks disguised as campaign communications.
To address these concerns, voters are asking campaigns to take proactive steps to protect their online presence.
As seen below, the impact of inadequate cybersecurity measures extends beyond data breaches. This highlights the importance of campaigns prioritizing cybersecurity to protect both data and reputation.
Maintain democratic integrity and election security with phishing-resistant YubiKeys
As the 2024 election season gets into full swing, it's clear that AI and cybersecurity will play a key role in shaping the electoral landscape, with individuals involved in this year's campaigns facing more active phishing attacks, data theft, and Ransomware, disinformation efforts should be expected. With this in mind, it is more important than ever to remain vigilant against foreign adversaries and domestic actors seeking to falsify election results.
By taking proactive steps to protect against cyber threats, campaigns not only protect their data but also build trust with voters. To help with this, campaigns should employ phishing-resistant multi-factor authentication (MFA), such as physical security keys like YubiKeys, to add an extra layer of protection against cyberattacks.
Yubico continues to be a strong advocate for improving cybersecurity in the election space, working closely with individuals and organizations in the United States and around the world, donating tens of thousands of YubiKeys to DDC through its Secure it Forward initiative. DDC is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to providing free cybersecurity tools and resources to political campaigns. Through our partnership with Yubico, DDC will provide his YubiKey for free to campaigns, regardless of political affiliation.
