Many Americans today question what is to be done about preventing future Russian interventions in our electoral system. Russian “micro-targeting” used to spread misinformation during the 2016 presidential election was so sophisticated that influence packages were custom tailored by interest group, locality and even individual voter. An ongoing question remains about whether or not Cambridge Analytica, a data analytics firm with connections to White House Chief Strategist Steve Bannon, was the American port of entry for Russian influence operations. Other questions revolve around the role of the Trump presidential campaign. While these are important questions, the answers await Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation.
Where the public must concern ourselves is how to prevent the next Russian intervention in the 2018 and 2020 elections. Some 39 state election systems were reportedly hacked by the Russian government. But by only focusing on the events of 2016, the U.S. remains vulnerable.
Having worked in the Pentagon and the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, I can attest that the one of the hallmarks of the Russian government’s asymmetrical warfare is to constantly evolve and to incorporate the newest tools at its disposal. By using sophisticated capabilities of companies like Cambridge Analytica, Russia will only further refine its ability to micro-target.
Full Article: Time is now to prepare for more cyberattacks on U.S. electoral system | Idaho Statesman.