Influence Operations — Election Security Glossary

Influence operations are coordinated efforts to shape public perception of elections, candidates, or election outcomes. They differ from generic disinformation in that they are organized: typically sponsored or directed by an actor with a goal, and executed through multiple channels over time. Influence operations targeting elections have been documented by federal agencies, academic researchers, and the major social media platforms.

Why this category matters for election security is that public confidence in election outcomes is an important component of the outcomes themselves. An election that is technically well-run but is perceived as compromised can have the same effects as one that actually is compromised. Defending against that perception requires accurate, timely communication and a clear-eyed view of the threats.

Federal agencies, including CISA, the FBI, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and the Global Engagement Center at the State Department, monitor and report on influence operations. Social media platforms publish their own data. Academic and civil-society organizations study specific campaigns. The information environment is dense, and the work of identifying and countering operations is ongoing.

The terminology in this category covers both the operations themselves and the responses to them. The concepts here are descriptive. They name the threats and the responses.