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Hostile Foreign Influence

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Hostile Foreign Influence Groups

Hostile foreign influence campaigns take several different forms, including:

  1. Efforts to influence the political process through lobbyists or by cultivating relationships with influential political, business or academic leaders.
    Efforts to steal technology from U.S. companies or government or academic institutions.

  2. The use of sophisticated online tools and tactics in a coordinated manner to advance a foreign country’s interests, such as by influencing our domestic political discourse, seeking to polarise our society or undermining our democratic political processes.

  3. Cyber-espionage and cyber-warfare operations.

  4. The funding of academic programs and institutions to influence students and faculty to be more favorably disposed to regimes that are actively hostile to freedom and democracy.

China and Russia are the most active and most dangerous sponsors of these campaigns. Both countries have poured billions of dollars into funding U.S. universities, stealing technology and conducting sophisticated social media disinformation campaigns.

Latest Articles on Hostile Foreign Influence

China Uses AI to Spread Disinformation About Hawaii Fires

China Uses AI to Spread Disinformation About Hawaii Fires

Hawea Casco, 9, walks through the backyard of his grandparents'…

Chinese Hacker Steals Microsoft Signing Key to Spy on US Government Agencies

A China-based threat actor known as Storm-0558 gained access to…
FBI Warns of Russian Spies

FBI Warns of Russian Spies

Russian Foreign Intelligence Service Emblem

Meta Disrupts Disinformation Ops From China and Russia

Meta has disrupted two major covert influence operations from China…
FBI Warns North Korea May Try to Cash Out Bitcoin

FBI Warns North Korea May Try to Cash Out Bitcoin

Budrul Chukrut/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
US Accuses Russia and China of Covering for North Korea

US Accuses Russia and China of Covering for North Korea

A news broadcast of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un…
North Korean Hackers Target U.S.-South Korea Military Drills

North Korean Hackers Target U.S.-South Korea Military Drills

South Korean security members participate in a civil defense drill…
Congressman Says Chinese Spies Hacked His Email

Congressman Says Chinese Spies Hacked His Email

Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE) - Drew Angerer/Getty Images
Former FBI Agent Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Violate US Sanctions on Russia

Former FBI Agent Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Violate US Sanctions on Russia

Charles McGonigal leaves Manhattan Federal Court after a court appearance…
Top US Cyber Official Warns of Potential Chinese Attacks on Critical US Infrastructure

Top US Cyber Official Warns of Potential Chinese Attacks on Critical US Infrastructure

Jen Easterly, Director of the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency,…
Brazil Denies US Extradition Request of Russian Spy

Brazil Denies US Extradition Request of Russian Spy

Headquarters of the Federal Security Service (FSB), the successor agency…
Congressional Testimony Asserts FBI Knew Biden Laptop Was Not Russian Disinformation

Congressional Testimony Asserts FBI Knew Biden Laptop Was Not Russian Disinformation

A phone case displaying a sticker about Hunter Biden's laptop,…
Russian Intelligence Operative Extradited to the US 

Russian Intelligence Operative Extradited to the US 

Vadim Konoshchenok - via CBSNews.com screenshot
US Plans to Restrict Chinese Access to Cloud Services

US Plans to Restrict Chinese Access to Cloud Services

Icons of the three leading cloud computing services - via…
Iran Hackers Targeting Nuclear Security Experts

Iran Hackers Targeting Nuclear Security Experts

Flag of Iran and binary code displayed on a laptop…
Iran Attempts to Procure Military/Nuclear Components in Europe

Iran Attempts to Procure Military/Nuclear Components in Europe

Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) parade under an Iranian Kheibar…
Chinese Balloon Used American Tech to Spy on US

Chinese Balloon Used American Tech to Spy on US

U.S. Air Force pilot looks down at the suspected Chinese…
New National Security Cyber Section

New National Security Cyber Section

Photo by Hatim Kaghat/Belga Mag AFP via Getty Images
Three Convicted of Stalking Chinese Nationals in US on Behalf Of China

Three Convicted of Stalking Chinese Nationals in US on Behalf Of China

Zhu Yong runs after leaving Brooklyn Federal Court for a…
Confucius Institute Closing Amid Concern Over Pentagon Grant

Confucius Institute Closing Amid Concern Over Pentagon Grant

A contestant shows his calligraphy work for a Confucius Institute…
Russian Hacker Group Targets Johns Hopkins University

Russian Hacker Group Targets Johns Hopkins University

Photoillustration by Budrul Chukrut/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
US Confirms Chinese Spy Base in Cuba

US Confirms Chinese Spy Base in Cuba

Chinese law enforcement peronnel launching a drone. Photo - Costfoto/Future…
Russian Accounts Spread Disinformation on TikTok

Russian Accounts Spread Disinformation on TikTok

TikTok restricted Russion users in March 2022 due to a…
Mistrial Declared in Russian Spy Case

Mistrial Declared in Russian Spy Case

Dr. Anna Gabrielian and Dr. Jamie Lee Henry leave the…
Illegal Agents of Chinese Government Charged in Bribery Scheme

Illegal Agents of Chinese Government Charged in Bribery Scheme

Demonstrators hold pictures of victims during a 2018 protest against…
State Department Develops AI Tool to Counter Russian Disinformation

State Department Develops AI Tool to Counter Russian Disinformation

Secretary of State Antony Blinken Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Russian National Charged With Ransomware Attacks

Russian National Charged With Ransomware Attacks

Mikhail Pavlovich Matveev, via FBI.gov screenshot
Massachusetts Man Indicted for Acting as Illegal Chinese Agent

Massachusetts Man Indicted for Acting as Illegal Chinese Agent

A float takes part in Chinese New Year celebrations in…

New Documents Show Qatar Granted Millions to Texas A&M

The organization Judicial Watch obtained records from Texas A&M revealing…
Fugees Rapper Convicted

Fugees Rapper Convicted

Pras Michel, a member of the 1990's hip-hop group the…
Iran-Linked Hackers Broke Into Election Website

Iran-Linked Hackers Broke Into Election Website

Cisco Chairman and CEO John Chambers delivers a keynote address…
Black Liberation Organizers Indicted as Russian Agents

Black Liberation Organizers Indicted as Russian Agents

Omali Yeshitela (right) marches on the White House with other…
California Woman Sentenced for Assisting in Plot to Kidnap Iranian Dissident

California Woman Sentenced for Assisting in Plot to Kidnap Iranian Dissident

Iranian dissident Masih Alinejad attends TIME's 2nd Annual Women of…
CEO Admits that Tik Tok Tracks Users’ Keystrokes

CEO Admits that Tik Tok Tracks Users’ Keystrokes

Katja Knupper/Die Fotowerft/DeFodi Images via Getty Images
Members of Congress Defend TikTok After Receiving Donations

Members of Congress Defend TikTok After Receiving Donations

U.S. Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) speaks as Rep. Robert Garcia…

China, Russia, Iran Hold Joint Naval Drills

Naval forces from China, Iran and Russia are staging joint…
<strong>Court Orders Qatar to Release Documents About University Funding</strong>

Court Orders Qatar to Release Documents About University Funding

Members of an all-girl Afghan robotics team assemble components for…
<strong>North Korea's New Social Media Propaganda Campaign</strong>

North Korea's New Social Media Propaganda Campaign

Photo by: Stephen Anthony Rohan via Getty Images
<strong>Top US High School Collaborated With Chinese Institution</strong>

Top US High School Collaborated With Chinese Institution

Students in class at Tsinghua University High School in Beijing,…
<strong>Confucius Institute in Alabama Closes</strong>

Confucius Institute in Alabama Closes

A dance group performs at Tulane University during a celebration…
<strong>Russian Hackers Target NATO</strong>

Russian Hackers Target NATO

Thiago Prudencio/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
<strong>Russia to Benefit from Biden's Partial Iran Sanctions Waiver</strong>

Russia to Benefit from Biden's Partial Iran Sanctions Waiver

Vladimir Putin with Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. photo: MIKHAIL KLIMENTYEV/AFP via…
<strong>TikTok's Parent Spent $13 Million on US Lobbying</strong>

TikTok's Parent Spent $13 Million on US Lobbying

Photo: Katja Knupper/Die Fotowerft/DeFodi Images via Getty Images
<strong>Iran Sending Ships to Panama</strong>

Iran Sending Ships to Panama

Iranian Oil Tanker named Makran was converted into Warship Wikipedia…
<strong>Justice Department Drops Probe of Retired General for Qatar Lobbying</strong>

Justice Department Drops Probe of Retired General for Qatar Lobbying

U.S. Marine General John Allen, the chief U.S. and NATO…
<strong>Defense Department Probed Over Refusal to Enforce CCP Related Funding Ban</strong>

Defense Department Probed Over Refusal to Enforce CCP Related Funding Ban

Hostile foreign nations like China are giving billions of dollars…
<strong>Chinese Spy Balloon Shot Down</strong>

Chinese Spy Balloon Shot Down

Chinese spy balloon flies above Charlotte, N.C. - Peter Zay/Anadolu…
<strong>FBI Counterintelligence Head Arrested for Ties to Russian Oligarch</strong>

FBI Counterintelligence Head Arrested for Ties to Russian Oligarch

Charles McGonigal, former head of counterintelligence for the FBI’s New…
<strong>Chinese Money Floods University That Houses Biden’s Think Tank</strong>

Chinese Money Floods University That Houses Biden’s Think Tank

An office building housing the Penn Biden Center, a think…
<strong>Russian Spy Ship Spotted Off Hawaii Coast</strong>

Russian Spy Ship Spotted Off Hawaii Coast

Vishnya-class intelligence ship Kareliya (535) - US Coast Guard image…
<strong>Former GE Engineer Sentenced for Espionage</strong>

Former GE Engineer Sentenced for Espionage

Visitors look at a LEAP aero-engine model by General Electric…
Russian Hacker Group Targets FMCSA & FBI

Russian Hacker Group Targets FMCSA & FBI

Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Former Twitter Employee Sentenced for Acting as Foreign Agent

Former Twitter Employee Sentenced for Acting as Foreign Agent

Photo Illustration by Mateusz Slodkowski/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
North Korea Tricks Experts Into Writing Research for Them

North Korea Tricks Experts Into Writing Research for Them

North Korean cyber spies are targeting policy-makers, think-tank researchers and…
Russian Arms Dealer Released

Russian Arms Dealer Released

Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout was released as part of…
The New Iran Deal Is Even Worse Than You Thought

The New Iran Deal Is Even Worse Than You Thought

Twenty years after 9/11 and 7 years after the first…
Maryland Couple Sentenced for Espionage-Related Crimes

Maryland Couple Sentenced for Espionage-Related Crimes

Diana and Jonathan Toebbe – West Virginia Regional Jail and…
Russian Oligarch Admits to US Election Interference

Russian Oligarch Admits to US Election Interference

Russian oligarch Yevgeny Prigozhin – Mikhail Svetlov/Getty Images
NAFO: The Virtual Army Successfully Combatting Russian Disinformation

NAFO: The Virtual Army Successfully Combatting Russian Disinformation

The 'fellas' are an online army of dog avatars exposing…
DOJ Announces Dozens Charged for Aiding Russian Military

DOJ Announces Dozens Charged for Aiding Russian Military

Russian Army multiple-rocket launcher seen during the annual Army Games…
FBI Warns Several State Political Parties of Chinese Hackers

FBI Warns Several State Political Parties of Chinese Hackers

Chinese President Xi Jinping arrives at the Opening Ceremony of…
<strong>Saudi Arabia Ramped Up Influence Operations</strong>

Saudi Arabia Ramped Up Influence Operations

Mohammed bin Salman/Mandel Ngan via Getty Images
Russian Hackers Disrupt US Travel Websites

Russian Hackers Disrupt US Travel Websites

View of the LAX Delta Sky Club. LAX’s website was…
NSA Employee Arrested for Espionage

NSA Employee Arrested for Espionage

A sign for the National Security Agency, Fort Meade, Md.…
Former Army Reservist Convicted as Chinese Agent

Former Army Reservist Convicted as Chinese Agent

Conscripts take a collective oath before joining the army in…
<strong>Iranian President Raisi Attacks US in UN Speech</strong>

Iranian President Raisi Attacks US in UN Speech

Iran's Raisi: "America trampled upon the nuclear accord"
<strong>US-Pacific Island Summit Targets China</strong>

US-Pacific Island Summit Targets China

Solomon Islands Prime Minister with Xi Jinping-Yao Dawei/Getty Images
Former Twitter Security Chief Alleges Spies on Staff and Critical Cybersecurity Risks

Former Twitter Security Chief Alleges Spies on Staff and Critical Cybersecurity Risks

Peiter Zatko – Matt McClain/The Washington Post via Getty Images
Iran Building Suspected Spy Satellites With Help From Russia

Iran Building Suspected Spy Satellites With Help From Russia

In this handout photo taken from video released by Roscosmos…
Twitter Employee Guilty of Spying for Saudi Arabia

Twitter Employee Guilty of Spying for Saudi Arabia

Zeina Abouammo, middle, whose husband Ahmad Abouammo is accused of…
<strong>Chinese Propaganda Ring Hosts 72 Fake News Sites in 11 Languages</strong>

Chinese Propaganda Ring Hosts 72 Fake News Sites in 11 Languages

Chinese social media personalities - Jade Gao via Getty Images
Russian Hackers Attack US Defense Contractor

Russian Hackers Attack US Defense Contractor

Lockheed Martin’s HIMARS rocket system – Pacific Press via Getty…
China Targeting the Federal Reserve

China Targeting the Federal Reserve

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell – Joshua Roberts/Getty Images
FBI Director Warns About Foreign Meddling in Midterm Elections

FBI Director Warns About Foreign Meddling in Midterm Elections

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin and China’s President Xi Jinping during…
<strong>Chinese Drone Maker Lobbies Congress</strong>

Chinese Drone Maker Lobbies Congress

Photo credit by Costfoto/Future Publishing via Getty Images)
Foreign Hackers Pose as Journalists

Foreign Hackers Pose as Journalists

Photo by Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images
FCC Commissioner Wants TikTok Removed

FCC Commissioner Wants TikTok Removed

Photo by Katja Knupper/Die Fotowerft/DeFodi Images via Getty Images
China Rebranding Confucius Institutes

China Rebranding Confucius Institutes

Photo by Nicholas Kajoba/Xinhua via Getty Images
<strong>Russian-Backed Network Works to Distort the Syrian Conflict</strong>

Russian-Backed Network Works to Distort the Syrian Conflict

Photo by Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty Images
US to Limit Scientific Cooperation With Russia

US to Limit Scientific Cooperation With Russia

Russian Academy of Sciences – Mikhail Ivanovich Lukin/Wikipedia
<strong>Congress Urges Universities to Divest From China</strong>

Congress Urges Universities to Divest From China

Photo by ANDREA VERDELLI/AFP via Getty Images
Government Warns of Chinese Hackers Targeting Telecom Providers

Government Warns of Chinese Hackers Targeting Telecom Providers

Photo by Silas Stein/picture alliance via Getty Images
<strong>Qatar Calls on West to Engage With Taliban</strong>

Qatar Calls on West to Engage With Taliban

Qatar has previously hosted face-to-face talks between the Taliban and…
China Seeking to Expand Its Influence in the Pacific

China Seeking to Expand Its Influence in the Pacific

Photo by VAITOGI ASUISUI MATAFEO/SAMOA OBSERVER/AFP via Getty Images
US Citizen Accused of Spying for China

US Citizen Accused of Spying for China

Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
A Network of Retired Lawmakers Boosts CCP Influence in Washington<strong></strong>

A Network of Retired Lawmakers Boosts CCP Influence in Washington

Lev Radin/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images
<strong>Iran Expands Military Cooperation With China</strong>

Iran Expands Military Cooperation With China

Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
<strong>DOJ Charges 3 Individuals Running a Russian Disinformation Network</strong>

DOJ Charges 3 Individuals Running a Russian Disinformation Network

Russian businessman and politician Alexander Babakov on February 22, 2021,…
<strong>US Government Confirms North Korea Cryptocurrency Theft</strong>

US Government Confirms North Korea Cryptocurrency Theft

Budrul Chukrut/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
<strong>DOJ Disrupts Russian Malware</strong>

DOJ Disrupts Russian Malware

Alexander Ryumin/Getty Images
<strong>China Using TikTok, Instagram to Spread Disinformation</strong>

China Using TikTok, Instagram to Spread Disinformation

Photo by Katja Knupper/Die Fotowerft/DeFodi Images via Getty Images
<strong>Universities Cutting Ties With Russia</strong>

Universities Cutting Ties With Russia

photo: Anadolu Agency/Getty Images
<strong>Chinese Hackers Target Taiwan</strong>

Chinese Hackers Target Taiwan

photo: Teh Eng Koon/Getty Images
<strong>Wife of Nuclear Engineer Pleads Guilty to Espionage-Related Charges</strong>

Wife of Nuclear Engineer Pleads Guilty to Espionage-Related Charges

Diana and Jonathan Toebbe – West Virginia Regional Jail and…
<strong>Russia Pours Millions Into US Lobbying  </strong>

Russia Pours Millions Into US Lobbying  

THIBAULT CAMUS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images