#Criptodivisas #Desinformación #Elecciones2024 #SeguridadDemocrática #Ciberinfluencia #Geoestrategia #Actividadencriptada #Cadenaanalítica
Malicious actors have increasingly used crypto-linked disinformation campaigns to disrupt elections, including the 2020 election. With the 2024 global elections impacting half the world’s population, identifying and addressing these campaigns is important to protect democratic processes from interference. Chainalysis found that one such media outlet is Russia-based SouthFront, which was sanctioned by OFAC in April 2021 for its involvement in foreign interference in the US 2020 presidential election under Russian government guidance. The Federal Security Service (FSB), a division of Russian intelligence, oversees SouthFront, which targets military enthusiasts, veterans, and conspiracy theorists while meticulously concealing its Russian ties. SouthFront seeks crypto donations to support its operations, receiving over $27,000 in crypto mainly in Bitcoin since July 2018.
The organization advises donors to transfer funds directly from personal or unhosted wallets rather than through intermediary services to evade detection by crypto exchanges that enforce KYC practices. Chainalysis highlighted that some malign actors pay for technology services using cryptocurrency due to it being mistakenly perceived as anonymous and untraceable. Additionally, Iran has significantly expanded its cyber-influence activities in recent years to further its geopolitical objectives. Islamic World News (ISWN), a partner of SouthFront reportedly linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), operates militaristic social media channels to promote pro-Iranian government and military propaganda. Chainalysis discovered that transfers from SouthFront and ISWN to exchanges may suggest efforts to convert cryptocurrency into fiat currency.
Identifying and addressing these malicious influence operations is crucial to safeguard the democratic process and ensure a fair election environment globally. Con la criptomoneda siendo utilizada como medio de financiamiento para estas campañas, la transparencia y trazabilidad de las transacciones se vuelven fundamentales para combatir la desinformación. Es necesario que las autoridades y los actores de la industria trabajen juntos para desarrollar herramientas y protocolos que permitan identificar y prevenir estas actividades maliciosas. El uso de tecnología blockchain para rastrear fondos ilícitos y actividades sospechosas puede ser clave en la lucha contra la interferencia en los procesos electorales.
La regulación y supervisión de las criptomonedas y su uso en actividades políticas se vuelve cada vez más relevante en un contexto donde la ciberinfluencia puede tener un impacto significativo en la percepción pública y los resultados de las elecciones. Es necesario fortalecer la cooperación internacional y el intercambio de información entre las agencias de seguridad cibernética para identificar y neutralizar estas amenazas. La transparencia en las transacciones en criptomonedas y la trazabilidad de fondos se convierten en herramientas esenciales en la defensa de la integridad de los procesos democráticos ante posibles interferencias.
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