大選倒數一年 美憂心中俄干預

美國安全部門官員週二（11月5日）警告，俄羅斯、中國（共）、伊朗和其他懷有惡意的外國勢力恐插手干預2020年總統大選，「敵人想要破壞我們的民主體制、煽動公眾情緒，並影響政府政策。」

法新社報導，美國國防部、國家情報總監辦公室和聯邦調查局等7個安全相關單位首長發布聯合聲明，表示目前沒有跡象顯示聯邦層級或州層級的選舉基礎設施遭受破壞或干擾，無須憂心計票作業。

不過，他們說：「敵人想要破壞我們的民主體制、煽動公眾情緒，並影響政府政策。他們可能會透過包括利用社交媒體，散布假訊息或對各州地方基礎設施進行破壞性的網路攻擊，以實現其目標。」

「俄羅斯、中國（共）、伊朗和其他懷有惡意的外國勢力，都將試圖干預投票過程、影響選民觀點。」

週二美國於多個州舉行州長選舉，且總統大選進入最後一年倒數階段，國防部等單位選在這天發布聲明，用意是提醒選民，美國政壇至今仍無法擺脫俄羅斯對2016年總統大選所造成的影響。

根據美國多個情報單位的首長表示，2016年期間，俄羅斯情報單位除幕後主導入侵民主黨電腦伺服器和通訊系統，也企圖透過電子途徑闖入各州和地方層級投票系統，川普本人否認此事。

而並行作業還包括，由俄羅斯總統普亭（Vladimir Putin）親信控制的「酸民農場」（troll farm）發動大規模社群媒體攻勢，用以拉抬川普聲勢、中傷當時民主黨籍對手希拉蕊．柯林頓（Hillary Clinton）。

那次的經驗暴凸顯出，網路安全、政治活動、選民登記和投票機制上都存有嚴重的弱點，且選民是很容易受到媒體操控和假新聞影響。

美國情報單位首長們說：「對美國政府來說，選務安全是最優先的。」

「美國政府正與全部50個州和領地、地方官員、私部門夥伴合作找出威脅、並全面分享資訊、保護民主程序。」

原文

US officials warn of foreign interference one year before election

Washington (AFP) - US security officials warned Tuesday that foreign adversaries would attempt to interfere in the 2020 elections, reprising those of three years ago when Moscow is accused of helping President Donald Trump's campaign.

In a joint statement the heads of seven top security-related agencies, including the Defense Department, Directorate of National Intelligence and the FBI, said there was no evidence yet of compromise or disruption of the national and state-level election infrastructure that would affect vote counts.

Nevertheless, they said, "Our adversaries want to undermine our democratic institutions, influence public sentiment and affect government policies."

"Russia, China, Iran, and other foreign malicious actors all will seek to interfere in the voting process or influence voter perceptions."

The statement, which came on the day of a number of off-year elections around the country, served as a reminder of the impact of Russia's efforts in 2016, which continue to reverberate through the US political scene.

According to US intelligence chiefs -- though still denied by Trump himself -- Russian intelligence was behind the hacking of Democratic Party computers and communications, and attempted to electronically break into voting systems at the state and local level.

Meanwhile in a parallel operation a Russian troll farm controlled by a close associate of President Vladimir Putin ran a massive social media campaign designed to bolster Trump and hurt his opponent, Democrat Hillary Clinton.

The experience bared deep weaknesses in cybersecurity in political campaigns and the machinery of voter registration and voting, as well as the vulnerability of the electorate to media manipulation and fake news.

"Election security is a top priority for the United States government," the agency heads said.

"In an unprecedented level of coordination, the US government is working with all 50 states and US territories, local officials, and private sector partners to identify threats, broadly share information, and protect the democratic process."