On Tuesday, the U.S. Treasury Department unveiled a new round of sanctions targeting Iranian and Russian organizations accused of attempting to interfere with the 2024 U.S. elections. These entities are alleged to have employed advanced tactics, including the use of artificial intelligence, to spread false and misleading information aimed at influencing public opinion. The sanctions are part of a broader effort by the U.S. government to combat foreign interference in the electoral process and safeguard the integrity of its democratic institutions. The use of AI in these disinformation campaigns highlights the evolving and sophisticated nature of threats to election security.
In its official statement, the U.S. Treasury Department announced the imposition of sanctions on a subsidiary of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and an affiliate of Russia’s military intelligence agency. These sanctions were imposed in response to their alleged attempts to manipulate the U.S. electorate during the 2024 election. According to the Treasury, both entities worked to exploit sociopolitical divisions within the United States and influence voter perceptions.
The Treasury revealed that the Russian affiliate utilized artificial intelligence tools to rapidly generate disinformation, which was disseminated through an extensive network of fake news websites. This included baseless claims aimed at undermining a 2024 vice-presidential candidate, whose identity the Treasury chose not to disclose.
While the sanctioned entities are considered relatively minor and their designation is unlikely to have significant economic repercussions, the move underscores the escalating tensions between the United States and two of its primary geopolitical rivals, Russia and Iran. These actions come as President Joe Biden evaluates the possibility of imposing broader sanctions on Russia’s energy sector, which could have more substantial impacts. Simultaneously, President-elect Donald Trump is reportedly preparing to ramp up economic pressure on Iran, signaling a potential shift toward a more confrontational stance in U.S. foreign policy.
Bradley Smith, the Treasury Department’s acting undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, stated that the governments of Iran and Russia have actively targeted U.S. election systems and institutions. He emphasized that their efforts aimed to sow division among the American people through coordinated disinformation campaigns. Smith reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to staying alert and countering any adversaries seeking to undermine its democratic principles.
The U.S. Treasury Department has imposed sanctions on the Center for Geopolitical Expertise (CGE), a Moscow-based organization founded by Aleksandr Dugin, a controversial figure who was previously sanctioned by the U.S. in 2015. According to the Treasury, the CGE has worked in close collaboration with Russia’s military intelligence service, which is responsible for conducting sabotage, political interference, and cyberwarfare campaigns targeting Western nations.
In its statement, the Treasury accused the Russian intelligence service of both directing and financially supporting the CGE as part of efforts to influence the 2024 U.S. presidential election. With this backing, the CGE reportedly managed a vast disinformation network consisting of at least 100 websites. These platforms were allegedly used to spread false narratives and manipulate public perception, contributing to a broader campaign of election interference. The sanctions reflect ongoing U.S. efforts to hold accountable entities and individuals involved in undermining democratic processes.
The U.S. Treasury Department has revealed that the Center for Geopolitical Expertise (CGE), a Moscow-based organization, leveraged generative AI technology to conduct sophisticated disinformation campaigns. According to the Treasury’s statement, CGE used AI tools to swiftly create false narratives, which were distributed across an extensive network of websites designed to mimic legitimate news outlets. This strategy aimed to fabricate false corroboration between stories while concealing the Russian origins of the content.
One of CGE’s disinformation efforts reportedly included the manipulation of a video to create baseless accusations against a 2024 vice-presidential candidate. While the Treasury did not identify the specific video, media reports, including those from The Washington Post, previously cited U.S. intelligence officials who attributed a fake video and other defamatory material targeting Democratic vice-presidential nominee Tim Walz to Russian operatives. Separately, Microsoft researchers reported that Russian entities had circulated another false video on social media in which an actor falsely accused Vice President Kamala Harris of involvement in a non-existent hit-and-run incident.
In addition to targeting CGE, the Treasury Department imposed sanctions on the Cognitive Design Production Center, a subsidiary of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), for its role in conducting influence operations. This move follows earlier actions by the Justice Department, which charged three individuals in connection with an alleged hack-and-leak attack aimed at then-President Donald Trump’s campaign.
The sanctions highlight the growing use of advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence, in disinformation campaigns by foreign adversaries seeking to undermine U.S. democracy. The U.S. government’s response underscores its commitment to countering these efforts and holding accountable the entities and individuals involved.
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