Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco will address the topic of election security and foreign influence efforts during a speech at the American Bar Association’s annual meeting. She emphasizes the Justice Department’s commitment to providing social media companies with intelligence on foreign attempts to sway elections. Monaco notes that while the decision to act on the information lies with the tech companies, the Justice Department will offer actionable insights to combat adversaries’ misuse of platforms, especially in relation to election interference.
Monaco highlights Russia as the primary foreign threat to elections, citing their targeting of specific voter demographics and use of encrypted direct-messaging apps to reach Americans. She also expresses concerns about an uptick in threats and violence towards public officials and election workers. Monaco stresses the importance of safeguarding election officials from intimidation to ensure a free and fair electoral process for all Americans.
In her upcoming speech at the ABA’s Democracy Summit in Chicago, Monaco will remind legal professionals of their role in upholding the rule of law and reinforcing trust in election integrity. Referencing recent Supreme Court decisions, including one allowing federal-government interaction with social media platforms, Monaco underlines the need for transparency in government actions related to election security measures.
Recent disclosures reveal the FBI’s procedures for sharing threat information with social media companies, as outlined in response to recommendations from the Justice Department inspector general. The protocols guide the FBI’s communication with platforms when activities linked to foreign governments are detected. Importantly, the FBI clarifies that it does not mandate any actions from the social media companies and that their involvement remains voluntary. Monaco reaffirms the department’s commitment to transparency by pledging to keep the public informed about the rationale and execution of these processes.
