US sanctions Russian, Iranian groups for election interference

The U.S. State Department sanctioned two organizations and one individual accused of conducting Russian- and Iranian-linked influence operations targeting the 2024 U.S. election. The report details alleged use of generative AI to create disinformation, networks of websites mimicking legitimate news outlets, AI-powered bot farms and fake personas, laundering of funds to online influencers, and a hack-and-leak operation; U.S. agencies and private firms have tracked multiple related campaigns and the government is responding with sanctions and public disclosures.