Washington DC [US]: The United States Treasury has announced new sanctions on Iranian and Russian entities accused of attempting to influence the 2024 US presidential election.
According to The Washington Post, the sanctioned entities allegedly used artificial intelligence (AI) to disseminate false information aimed at swaying voter opinion.
In an official statement, the Treasury confirmed sanctions against a subsidiary of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and an affiliate of Russia’s military intelligence agency. These entities were accused of working to “stoke socio-political tensions and influence the U.S. electorate during the 2024 election.”
The Treasury alleged that the Russian-affiliated group used AI tools to produce and distribute disinformation through a vast network of fake news websites. This network reportedly spread baseless claims about a vice-presidential candidate, the Washington Post reported.
While the sanctions target smaller entities with limited economic impact, they signify escalating tensions between the US, Russia, and Iran.
Bradley Smith, the acting undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, stated, “The Governments of Iran and Russia have targeted our election processes and institutions and sought to divide the American people through targeted disinformation campaigns. The United States will remain vigilant against adversaries who would undermine our democracy.”
Among those sanctioned is the Center for Geopolitical Expertise (CGE), a Moscow-based organization previously sanctioned in 2015. CGE is linked to Russian military intelligence and funded by Aleksandr Dugin, according to the Treasury. The organization is accused of running a network of over 100 websites to disseminate disinformation designed to mimic legitimate news outlets.
The Treasury further accused CGE of using AI to create false stories and distribute them through its network, obscuring their Russian origin.
Additionally, the sanctions targeted the Cognitive Design Production Center, a subsidiary of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, citing its role in conducting “influence operations.”