China stole your voter file. The media is downplaying the real threat
President Donald Trump on July 16 delivered a nationally televised, primetime address highlighting security gaps in U.S. voter registration databases and other election infrastructure. Figuring prominently in the president’s speech was newly declassified information on China’s acquisition of millions of U.S. voter registration records.
TL;DR
- China acquired 220 million U.S. voter files containing names, addresses, phone numbers, and political party preferences.
- The acquisition of voter data by China is presented as a potential threat to U.S. election security.
- The data could be used for sophisticated voter suppression campaigns using AI-generated micro-targeting and disinformation.
- There is a risk of mail ballot fraud through impersonation of voters using obsolete registration records.
- Many media outlets downplayed the risks associated with China's acquisition of voter data, emphasizing lack of evidence of influence or that the data alone is insufficient to alter registrations.