Microsoft’s president, Brad Smith, has sent out a strong warning about attempts by foreign powers to influence the November presidential election in the United States.
“The most perilous moment will come, I think, 48 hours before the election,” Smith told a U.S. Senate hearing.
“That’s the lesson to be learned from, say, the Slovakian election last fall.
“A Russian group” released and pushed the story two days before the European country’s parliamentary election, according to Smith. This included amplifying the story with a top Russian official and deepfake audio that claimed to reveal a vote-stealing plot.
“The Russian government is very capable, very sophisticated, not just in technology but in social science,” Smith said.
The Microsoft CEO emphasized the “real and serious threats” in the upcoming U.S. presidential election on November 5.
While the race is between Republican candidate Donald Trump and Democratic candidate Kamala Harris, the election is also becoming a battle between Iran, Trump, and Russia.
“It is an election where Russia, Iran, and China are united with the common interest in discrediting democracy in the eyes of our voters,” Smith warned.
Written by Jennifer Amarachi
