FBI Director Names China the Nation's Most 'Severe Counterintelligence Threat'

[InfoSec News <alerts () infosecnews org>]

https://www.defenseone.com/threats/2019/07/fbi-director-names-china-nations-most-severe-counterintelligence-threat/158679/

By Jack Corrigan
Staff Correspondent
Nextgov
July 25, 2019

FBI Director Christopher Wray on Tuesday warned Russia remains “absolutely 
intent” on meddling in next year’s elections and named China as the greatest 
national security threat facing the country today.

Wray told lawmakers the Russian election interference efforts that helped 
galvanize Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation in 2017 are still 
operating at full force. While the Homeland Security Department is working to 
lock down the country’s election infrastructure, the FBI is focused on 
combating the misinformation and influence campaigns the Russians are waging 
online.

Testifying before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Wray said the FBI is working 
with federal agencies and the private sector to raise awareness about Russian 
misinformation, including social media ads, and to combat the country’s attempt 
to sway the electorate. Relatedly, he said the bureau is also working with the 
private sector to fight the spread of deepfakes, which he called a major 
concern for FBI leadership.

Though Wray said the bureau has “significant resources” devoted to combating 
Russian influence efforts, he suggested that the U.S. needs to step up its game 
to change the country’s behavior.

[...]

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