--- title: "US Intelligence Detects New Wave of Russian Interference in US Elections Using AI" description: "US intelligence has detected a new Russian influence campaign targeting the November US elections, using AI-generated videos on social networks. Iran and China are also involved in similar operations." date: 2026-09-19T01:20:01.000Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/russia-interference-us-elections-intelligence-ai tags: [russia, us-elections, disinformation, artificial-intelligence, iran, china, cybersecurity] publisher: "XAB.info" --- # US Intelligence Detects New Wave of Russian Interference in US Elections Using AI ![American voters in front of the US flag amid reported Russian AI-driven interference in US elections](https://xab.info/media/2026/09/20/rossiya-vmeshatelstvo-vyibory-ssha-razvedka-ai/rossiya-vmeshatelstvo-vyibory-ssha-razvedka-ai-1.webp) ## 🎯 Key Points - US intelligence is tracking a new Russian influence campaign targeting the November US elections, using AI-generated videos on X and BlueSky. - Russian trolls published materials mimicking CNN, BBC, and The New York Times, containing false accusations against Democrats. - Iran and China are also participating in influence campaigns, with China acting more cautiously, while Russia and Iran are less afraid of exposure. - The operations are unfolding against the backdrop of a rise in Trump's approval rating and a weakening of the Republican Party's position ahead of the Congressional elections. US intelligence agencies and national security experts have stepped up their attention to Moscow's attempts to influence the electoral process in the United States, using disinformation and modern digital tools, including generative artificial intelligence. According to The New York Times, as cited by Ukrainian and Russian media, intelligence services are tracking Kremlin activity aimed at shaping public opinion ahead of the Congressional midterms scheduled for November 2026. This is not the first such campaign: previously, US intelligence agencies had already reported Russian operations to spread disinformation during US elections. ### US Intelligence Assessments Researchers in Europe and the US who specialize in tracking Russian disinformation campaigns have, in recent weeks, detected signs of new Russian activity. By their observations, a network previously linked to Kremlin trolls published, in two separate waves, a series of video materials on the social networks X and BlueSky. The content was generated using artificial intelligence and contained baseless claims against Democrats running for the Senate. ### AI Videos Mimicking Major Media Outlets The posts used themes that, according to analysts, US President Donald Trump and the Republican Party are relying on to discredit opponents: accusations of corruption, antisemitism, and support for gay and transgender rights. Some videos were formatted to look like materials from well-known news organizations, including CNN, BBC, and The New York Times, increasing the risk that false claims will be perceived as credible. US officials emphasize that the development of artificial intelligence makes foreign interference faster and cheaper, and that the scale of future operations will depend on the tools used by foreign states. ### Iran and China in the Influence Race In addition to Russia, Iran and China are using similar tools in their influence campaigns. During the 2020 presidential election, Tehran, according to US authorities, was spreading propaganda undermining Donald Trump's credibility, and officials now consider it entirely reasonable to expect similar attempts to be repeated. Last month, Meta published a report on a small network of accounts on Facebook and Instagram originating from Iran and focused on American politics; some of the content was generated using AI and contained "anti-Republican views." Beijing, according to the NYT, also intends to influence the elections, but its activity is the lowest: China, as noted by current and former US officials, acts more cautiously to avoid exposure, while Russia and Iran are less concerned about their operations becoming public. ### Political Context Ahead of the Elections These operations are unfolding against the backdrop of complex domestic political dynamics in the US. According to recent polls, President Donald Trump's approval rating has risen slightly after falling to a record low, while the Republican Party's position ahead of the Congressional midterms has weakened. It is precisely under such conditions, experts believe, that foreign interference can exert a disproportionately strong influence on public sentiment and voter behavior. ## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification - [Russia Attempts to Interfere in US Elections: NYT Learned of US Intelligence Assessments](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/rosiya-namagaetsya-vtrutitisya-vibori-ssha-1789780627.html) - Подтверждает факт оценки американской разведки о российском вмешательстве в выборы США по материалам NYT. - [US Intelligence: Russia Has Launched a Campaign to Interfere in US Elections](https://ru.themoscowtimes.com/2026/09/19/amerikanskaya-razvedka-rossiya-nachala-kampaniyu-povmeshatelstvu-vvibori-vssha-a206492) - Подтверждает начало российской кампании вмешательства в выборы США по данным американской разведки. - [NYT Learned That Intelligence Reports Russian Interest in US Missile Stockpiles](https://www.rbc.ru/politics/08/08/2026/6a7768e99a79478cbdad43de) - Источник касается другого сюжета (запасы ракет США) и не использовался для фактов данной статьи о выборах. ## ❓ FAQ ### Q: What is US intelligence detecting regarding Russia ahead of the US elections? **A:** Intelligence is tracking a new Russian influence campaign targeting the November Congressional midterms, in which disinformation and AI-generated videos are being used on the social networks X and BlueSky. ### Q: How exactly is Russia trying to influence voters? **A:** A network linked to Kremlin trolls was publishing AI videos containing false accusations against Democrats, formatted to mimic materials from CNN, BBC, and The New York Times. ### Q: Are other countries involved in influencing US elections? **A:** Yes, according to the NYT, similar tools are being used by Iran and China. China acts more cautiously to avoid exposure, while Russia and Iran are less concerned about the publicity of their operations.