FBI says 'inauthentic' uses of its name promote false narratives
FBI officials say there have been several instances of the "inauthentic" use of the FBI's name and seal to promote false election-related narratives.
A fabricated written statement, falsely claiming to be from the FBI, warned media and bloggers against publishing information about violence at polling stations -- claiming that active dissemination of information about attacks at polling stations may provoke a spontaneous increase in such incidents.
A fabricated video impersonating the FBI and a U.S. government agency falsely provided a joint statement suggesting schools suspend educational activities through Nov. 11, fraudulently claiming that "the risk of school shooting and riots has increased significantly" because of the election.
And a fabricated video falsely claimed the FBI received "9,000 complaints about malfunctioning voting machines."
"Election integrity is among our highest priorities, and the FBI is working closely with state and local law enforcement partners to respond to election threats," FBI officials said in a statement. "Attempts to deceive the public with false content about FBI threat assessments and activities aim to undermine our democratic process and erode trust in the electoral system."