Election Security and Foreign Interference

Foreign interference of the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections, and the 2018 midterm elections, have exposed unprecedented vulnerabilities: shortcomings to national cybersecurity policy and the failure to develop effective cyber deterrents; underregulation of social media platforms and Internet governance; how best to safeguard voter data and consumer data; and what federal oversight of election administration and voting systems may be necessary while still respecting federalism principles and state sovereignty. Multiple intelligence reports have described the interference as an influence campaign that blended covert cyber operations, and overt propaganda and misinformation operations. This seminar will explore how best to address the legal and policy challenges posed by the foreign interference in U.S. elections and vulnerabilities to election security.

This course satisfies the upper-level writing seminar requirement.