United States Capitol building and an Iranian flag are seen at the photo exhibition organized by the Iranian-American community and supporters of the Iranian Resistance at the National mall in Washington D.C., United States.
Celal Gunes | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images
Federal prosecutors on Friday announced criminal charges against three Iranian nationals in connection with a recent hack of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump’s campaign and other cyberattacks.
The three “malicious cyber actors,” who were employed by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, engaged in “a wide-ranging hacking campaign” that also targeted current and former government officials, media figures and non-governmental organizations, according to an indictment filed in Washington, D.C., federal court.
The charges come amid heightened scrutiny about how foreign actors, especially Iran, China and Russia, are trying to influence the American presidential race between Trump and Democratic nominee Kamala Harris.
U.S. intelligence officials said Monday that those foreign interference efforts include using artificial intelligence to spread disinformation and manipulate public opinion, NBC News reported.
Officials have said that Iran is working to hurt Trump’s campaign, while Russia prefers Trump, who has declined to say he wants Ukraine to win its war against invading Kremlin forces.
China, meanwhile, has pushed anti-democracy influence operations but has not clearly sided with either the Republican or Democratic tickets, officials have said.
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