US Cyber Command IRA Midterms

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U.S. reportedly disrupted Russian troll farm’s internet access during 2018 midterms

The disruption reportedly happened as ballots were cast and tallied.

 

Andrew Wyrich

Tech

Posted on Feb 26, 2019   Updated on May 20, 2021, 6:15 pm CDT

The United States disrupted the internet access of the Internet Research Agency (IRA) on the day of the 2018 midterms, according to a new report.

The Washington Post reports the U.S. Cyber Command “basically took the IRA offline,” on the day of the midterm elections. The IRA is the Russian “troll farm” authorities say used social media to sow discord among Americans leading up to the 2016 presidential election.

The IRA was at the center of charges brought by Special Counsel Robert Mueller as part of his investigation into election interference.

“The fact that the 2018 election process moved forward without successful Russian intervention was not a coincidence,” Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) told the newspaper.

Officials told the newspaper that the internet disruption took place during the voting stage of the midterms and while the votes were being counted.

You can read all of the Washington Post report here.

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*First Published: Feb 26, 2019, 1:55 pm CST