The next is a transcript of an interview with Jen Easterly, the director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Safety Company, that aired Sunday, Oct. 30, 2022, on "Face the Nation."
MARGARET BRENNAN: We go now to Jen Easterly, the director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Safety Company, often known as CISA. That is the Homeland Safety company tasked with securing America's cybersecurity infrastructure and coordinating with states on election safety, and also you're gonna be very busy. I am glad you are right here with us as we speak.
JEN EASTERLY, DIRECTOR OF THE CYBERSECURITY AND INFRASTRUCTURE SECURITY AGENCY: Nice to be right here.
MARGARET BRENNAN: I need to ask you about this bulletin first off. It warns home violent extremists might view election-related infrastructure personnel and voters as enticing targets. Are you conscious of speedy and credible threats?
EASTERLY: No. Let me be very clear on the high. We have now no details about particular or credible threats to disrupt or compromise election infrastructure. I would like that to be very clear. We're placing out data, just like the warnings that you just talked about, to guarantee that state and native election officers have the knowledge that they should defend their voting methods and their election infrastructure. That stated, Margaret, it's a very complicated menace surroundings. You've gotten cyber threats, you've gotten insider threats, you've gotten rampant disinformation. And sure, very worryingly, you've gotten threats of harassment, intimidation and violence in opposition to election officers, polling locations and voters. Let's be actually clear. That has to cease. It's unacceptable habits, it is undemocratic. And all of us must work collectively to make sure that this can be a protected and safe election.
MARGARET BRENNAN: And it's the states that administer the election. You might be offering assist to them. What's the election day plan for safety, after which communication? What are we going to listen to and see?
EASTERLY: So, on election day truly, we at CISA are going to be in our personal operation middle. We'll have federal authorities companions, non-public sector companions there, after which we'll be in direct communication with all the state and native election officers whose job it's to run and administer elections. We'll be working to share data, and we'll be working to have the ability to reply to something that occurs. However bear in mind, on the finish of the day, the connection between native officers and native regulation enforcement is extremely necessary. And I used to be actually inspired by the opinion piece that got here out yesterday with the sheriff in Massachusetts, one in Colorado, speaking about the truth that making certain election safety is a nonpartisan subject, and threats to election officers need to cease. So, that connectivity on the native stage, the knowledge sharing, the planning and exercising that is occurring is absolutely necessary to making sure safety at the- on the polling place and on the poll field.
MARGARET BRENNAN: We discuss quite a bit about rhetoric and the danger of triggering violence. And social media is a spot the place false data typically spreads. So, I need to ask you about what's occurring now at Twitter. It is now privately owned by billionaire Elon Musk. This morning, he tweeted a conspiracy concept about Nancy Pelosi's husband. Given how charged the environment is, are you involved about how this platform would possibly change and that it'll make your job tougher?
EASTERLY: Nicely, initially, horrific assault on Mr. Pelosi, and ideas and prayers go to their household. That may be a determination that social media corporations that Twitter will make. They make their very own selections based mostly on phrases of service. I'm laser targeted–
(CROSSTALK)
MARGARET BRENNAN: That is the proprietor himself tweeting this out.
EASTERLY: I'm laser targeted on the following 9 days and the time that comes after elections on doing all the pieces we will to make sure safety. I do need to be very clear on this, although, Margaret. These elections, election officers, these will not be faceless backroom bureaucrats, proper? These are our kin, our associates, our neighbors. They're in our group. They're devoted public servants which might be working day in and time out to make sure the safety of elections, they usually deserve not simply our assist, however our admiration and respect, they usually should be protected. And all of us have to be accountable about making certain that is a protected and safe surroundings.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Which is why I am asking you concerning the place the place these conspiracy theories unfold. The FBI report, after we checked out it when it comes to these direct threats to election staff, highlighted Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Nevada and Wisconsin as locations the place voter intimidation and threats to election staff have been seen. Are these areas of biggest concern for you?
EASTERLY: Involved throughout the board. We have now cyber threats from nation states and cyber criminals. You've gotten insider threats. You've gotten bodily threats, as we talked about, after which you've gotten disinformation. So, disinformation, overseas affect that can be utilized to sow discord, that may undermine confidence in election integrity and that can be utilized to incite violence. So, what are we doing? We're doing a pair issues. To start with, we're placing out details about techniques and disinformation and how one can construct resilience in opposition to disinformation. We have now a rumor versus actuality website that is principally election literacy. However most significantly, we're amplifying the voices of native and state election officers. They're the trusted voices that perceive how elections work. If anyone has questions on voting or what -- the way it all works, you must go to their local- native election officers.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So, that is who they need to be following on Twitter and social media–
EASTERLY: –these are the consultants.
MARGARET BRENNAN: –Discover out who your native election official is and comply with their account?
EASTERLY: Precisely. Precisely. And you realize, I ought to level out, the Nationwide Affiliation of Secretaries of State, nass.org. TrustedInfo2022, an important supply for data, in addition to the Nationwide Affiliation of Election Administrators, nased.org, incessantly requested questions, that is the best- finest place to go. They understand how elections occur. If you happen to've seen one state in an election, you've got seen one state. It is truly surprisingly technical and complex, and that is why I welcome individuals asking questions, you realize. The fantastic thing about democracy is that it is participatory. We are able to all have a job. So, volunteer, be a ballot employee, ask questions. The extra transparency, the higher.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Earlier than I allow you to go, I need to ask you concerning the overseas menace and 2016 Russia probed voter registration logs. We all know there are warnings about what China is doing proper now. How efficient has this marketing campaign by Beijing been, and are there different state actors or non-state actors you are involved about?
EASTERLY: Yeah, we have seen Russia, we have seen Iran, we have seen China use the playbook for affect operations. That is why it is so necessary that Individuals notice that they should construct resilience in opposition to that. If you happen to see data that is on the web, you are unsure whet- whether or not it is true, be important about it, ask questions, take a look at the supply, examine it and do not unfold that data any extra broadly and give- principally give overseas adversaries an opportunity to control Individuals and to sow discord and to create insecurity in our elections. However, I need to be very, very clear. I've confidence within the elections which might be going to be run due to the large quantity of labor that is been achieved throughout the federal authorities, state and native election officers with election distributors to place a number of, a number of layers of resilience and safety controls in place. I'm assured that elections can be protected and safe, and the American individuals ought to believe within the integrity of elections after they go to the poll field after they forged their vote.
MARGARET BRENNAN: All proper. Good luck to you. It will likely be a busy subsequent few days and weeks.