{"id":122071,"date":"2023-12-11T12:19:49","date_gmt":"2023-12-11T12:19:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/yourclomid.com\/?p=122071"},"modified":"2023-12-11T12:19:49","modified_gmt":"2023-12-11T12:19:49","slug":"uk-launches-vote-meddling-probe-as-experts-point-to-social-media-role","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/yourclomid.com\/politics\/uk-launches-vote-meddling-probe-as-experts-point-to-social-media-role\/","title":{"rendered":"UK launches vote meddling probe as experts point to social media role"},"content":{"rendered":"

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READ MORE <\/strong> Canadian living in UK baffled by common greeting has social media in stitches<\/strong><\/p>\n

The UK is monitoring overseas elections for signs of foreign interference as part of attempts to stop hostile countries interfering in the general election expected next year.<\/p>\n

As well as Russia, there is particular concern about Iran\u2019s Islamic Revolutionary Guard, which is believed to have the capacity to hack computer networks and previously gained access to the servers of a US police department.<\/p>\n

The EU is to hold Parliamentary elections in June while Finland, on Russia\u2019s borders, holds a presidential election on January 28. The US begins holding a series of primary elections to choose presidential candidates on January 8, with a vote in New Hampshire.<\/p>\n

The Government has set up a body called the Defending Democracy TaskForce, led by Security Minister Tom Tugendhat, which works closely with the National Cyber Security Centre, a department of intelligence agency GCHQ. It is to liaise with friendly countries holding elections over the next 12 months to learn from their experiences.<\/p>\n

Intelligence agencies believe hackers working with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard have been targeting infrastructure in the US, UK, Canada and Australia.<\/p>\n

Mr Tugendhat said: \u201cThe Defending Democracy TaskForce is an enduring government function which seeks to protect the democratic integrity of the UK from threats of foreign interference in our democratic processes, institutions and society.
\u201cThe work done by the Task Force to defend democracy will remain vital over the next 12 months.\u201d<\/p>\n

Potential threats include using AI to create fake content including \u201chyper-realistic\u201d video in an attempt to sway voters, and targeting the personal accounts of \u201chigh risk\u201d people such as politicians or journalists, the centre warned.<\/p>\n

However the UK\u2019s \u201cpaper and pencil\u201d voting system is more secure than the electronic systems used in some countries.<\/p>\n