Pushing Back on Russian Meddling in Western Elections

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Series Details 02.12.16
Publication Date 02/12/2016
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Unfortunately, looking ahead, it seems the West is in for a particularly intense season of electoral interference and institutional attacks from Russia. On the heels of the US election in 2016, officials in Berlin are already assuming Russia will attempt to interfere in the German parliamentary election in the autumn of 2017, and French intelligence officials have reportedly warned of possible Russian interference in the French presidential election in the spring of 2017.

In 2014, the NATO alliance declared for the first time that cyberdefence was part of its core collective defence task and hence subject to Article 5. This, in conjunction with other changes the alliance has implemented over 2015 and 2016, is a step in the right direction. What remains now is for NATO to make clear to Moscow — through direct dialogue as part of a diplomatic track — that undermining an ally’s institutional integrity through cybermeans constitutes an assault on that member state’s political independence and an attack as described in Article 5.

Source Link Link to Main Source http://carnegieeurope.eu/strategiceurope/66332
Related Links
ESO: Background information: Be aware of Russian and ISIS propaganda, warn foreign affairs MEPs http://www.europeansources.info/record/resolution-on-the-eus-strategic-communication-against-external-propaganda/
Politico, 19.12.16: Russian influence looms over Germany’s election http://www.politico.eu/article/russian-influence-german-election-hacking-cyberattack-news-merkel-putin/
The Guardian, 29.11.16: German spy chief says Russian hackers could disrupt elections https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/nov/29/german-spy-chief-russian-hackers-could-disrupt-elections-bruno-kahl-cyber-attacks
BBC News, 12.12.16: Russian hackers 'threaten Germany 2017 election', MPs warn http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-38288181
Deutsche Welle, 11.12.16: Russia behind hack on German parliament, paper reports http://dw.com/p/2U6uV
Politico, 13.12.16: Europe braces for Russian hacking in upcoming elections http://www.politico.eu/article/europe-russia-hacking-elections/
ECFR: Podcast, 05.01.17: Are Europe’s elections still safe? http://www.ecfr.eu/podcasts/episode/mark_leonards_world_in_30_minutes_are_europes_elections_still_safe
Euro|Topics: Debates, January 2017: Did Putin manipulate the US election campaign? http://www.eurotopics.net/en/172319/did-putin-manipulate-the-us-election-campaign
EUObserver, 09.01.17: [Opinion]: The fake hype about fake news in Germany https://euobserver.com/opinion/136480
The Guardian, 09.01.17: Germany investigating unprecedented spread of fake news online https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jan/09/germany-investigating-spread-fake-news-online-russia-election
ESO: Background information: EU to step up effort against Russian and Islamist propaganda http://www.europeansources.info/showDoc?ID=1220028

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