Election fraud: who’s voting for who?

Risks of remote voting

Remote voting, while designed to promote participation globally, introduces a myriad of vulnerabilities. From the risks of coercion and identification fraud to compromised secrecy and the potential interception of votes by bad actors, the very foundation of election integrity is at risk. 

Manipulation might mean exploiting technological vulnerabilities and voter fraud cases, Heritage Foundation shares a sampling of recent proven instances of election fraud from across the US, such as hacking into online voting systems, creating fake social media campaigns to influence voter opinions, and spreading misinformation to manipulate public sentiment. 

In a shocking example, a team of Israeli contractors operating under the pseudonym "Team Jorge" was exposed for manipulating more than 30 elections worldwide. Led by Tal Hanan, a former Israeli special forces operative, the group employed hacking, sabotage, and automated disinformation on social media to covertly meddle in elections for over two decades.

Emphasizing the need to consider adopting advanced identity verification solutions, such as biometrics, over outdated methods that can easily be manipulated. This ensures a more secure and trustworthy remote voting experience, safeguarding the integrity of elections in the digital age.

Deepfake threat

The Veriff Identity Fraud Report 2024 reveals a stark reality — generative AI has turbocharged the deepfake threat. Criminals now possess the tools to create video and voice content virtually indistinguishable from reality. 

Recent incidents involving world leaders, including US President Joe Biden and Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky falling victim to tampered or fabricated deepfake content, underscore the need to address this threat to maintain credibility and trust among voters.

More than 100 deepfake video advertisements impersonating Rishi Sunak were paid to be promoted on Facebook in the last month alone, also raising alarms about the risk that AI poses before the general election.

The rise in political conspiracy theories also poses a threat to workplace efficiency. Employers can proactively promote their employees' civic engagement leading up to the 2024 general election by arming people with the right tools to differentiate fallacy from accurate information.

In this report, we explore the rise of deepfake technology, its usage patterns, and, most importantly, how businesses can protect themselves from the credibility crisis it may induce.

Social media and fake news

According to this study, Facebook spreads fake news faster than any other social website. The deepfake phenomenon adds another layer to this challenge, with algorithms fostering echo chambers that amplify misinformation. 

Former President Donald Trump stirred controversy during the run up to the 2020 Presidential elections by posting a report on his social media website, riddled with falsehoods about fraud in the elections. Criticized for rehashing unfounded election conspiracy theories and lacking credible evidence, this highlighted the challenges faced by Trump's advisers in controlling his impulses and maintaining a consistent narrative on social media.

The prevalence of echo chambers and their potential role in increasing political polarization shouldn’t be ignored. Washington Post highlights the importance of discerning reliable sources drawing on lessons learned from this 2020 election. 

With generative AI tools reaching mainstream adoption, the vulnerability of election systems to cyberattacks is unprecedented. In the face of evolving threats, businesses can take a proactive stance by embracing Veriff's advanced identity verification solutions. 

We´re constantly developing our real-time remote biometric identification solutions and we use AI and machine learning to make our identification process faster, safer, and better. We operate globally, and our legal teams continually monitor the various local legal landscapes, so we are well-positioned to navigate new and changing regulations.​