Election-jacking – using PR to Raise the Alarm

As the US heads to the polls, the media is filled with coverage of US candidates’ latest utterings and campaign strategies . With so much going on around this massive election, one key topic has flown under the radar – security. Taking a step back, it’s been a significant year for global elections, with more than four billion people heading for the polls across 40 countries. With so many elections, there are a lot of potential targets for cyber attacks.

And election hacking isn't just a theoretical problem. There are a number of different tools in the election-jacking belt, including everything from tampering with voting machines, to spreading false information to sway voter opinions – actions which threaten the very foundation of democracy. Recently, the UK government proactively highlighted these risks, stressing the importance of robust cybersecurity measures.

On top of this, Generative AI is making things even more complicated. It's now easier for amateur hackers to create convincing deepfakes and spread false stories.

Sounding the warning

Across the course of the year we have been working with several clients to take a deep dive on the risks around elections, and provide insight on how they can be minimised.

This led to our Imperva team securing coverage on Sky News with a proactive pitch, warning that generative AI, bots, and social media could fuel false narratives like never before. Imperva stressed that platforms must take responsibility for removing fake content but also urged voters to be vigilant and prepare themselves.

Venafi featured in the same piece, explaining that without international agreement, regulation alone won't be enough to prevent AI-generated content – landing them more coverage in major publications like the Daily Express.

A constant threat

The election-jacking risk does not finish when the polls close in the US. Next year there will be several key elections both close to home (Ireland) and further afield (Australia). Now more than ever, cybersecurity vendors are key to spotting and alerting everyone to emerging election security risks. Their insights are crucial for creating strategies to tackle these threats, helping businesses and consumers stay ahead of potential dangers.

But how do they get their message out there? From a PR perspective, our job is to keep an eye on these developments, anticipate what's coming next, and react swiftly. By doing so, we ensure our clients' messages reach the right audience at the right time, addressing urgent issues in real-time and playing a part in highlighting the risks around elections.