Matthew Travis, Deputy Director of CISA, gave a presentation on countering foreign influence at an OECD high-level risk forum in December 2019. The presentation discussed the goals of election interference, how ideas spread and influence audiences, and the themes used in Russian disinformation during the 2016 US election, such as black issues, police brutality, immigration, and gun rights. Travis then outlined CISA's approach to quantify message impact, inoculate audiences, mitigate influence campaigns, and identify adversary tactics. The presentation concluded with recommendations for recognizing the risk of disinformation, securing systems, coordinating with social media, avoiding amplifying false information, and reporting incidents.

1. Presenter’s Name
December 9, 2019
C I S A | C Y B E R S E C U R I T Y A N D I N F R A S T R U C T U R E S E C U R I T Y A G E N C Y
COUNTERING FOREIGN INFLUENCE
OVERVIEW FOR OECD HIGH-LEVEL RISK FORUM
DECEMBER 2019
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2. Matthew Travis, Deputy Director, CISA
December 9, 2019
Goals of Election Interference
Source: “Cyber Threats to Canada’s Democratic
Process,” Canada Centre for Cyber Security

3. Matthew Travis, Deputy Director, CISA
December 9, 2019
How Ideas (Good or Bad) Spread & Grow…or Fade Away
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Source: TRUST Partners, Phil
Cowdell

4. Matthew Travis, Deputy Director, CISA
December 9, 2019
 Black Culture/Community Issues
 Police Brutality/Black Lives Matter
 Pro-Police/Blue Lives Matter
 Anti-Refugee/Immigration & Border Issues
 Texas Culture
 Southern Culture/Confederate History
 Separatist Movements
 Muslim Issues
 LGBT Issues
 Gun Rights/2nd Amendment
 Patriotism/Tea Party
 Religious Rights
 Native American Issues
 Veterans Issues
 Local News/Journalism/Media
Russian Disinformation Themes During 2016 Election
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Source: “The Tactics and Tropes of the Internet
Research Agency,”, DiResti, Albright, and
Johnson, New Knowledge

5. Matthew Travis, Deputy Director, CISA
December 9, 2019
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6. Matthew Travis, Deputy Director, CISA
December 9, 2019
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7. Matthew Travis, Deputy Director, CISA
December 9, 2019
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8. Matthew Travis, Deputy Director, CISA
December 9, 2019
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9. Matthew Travis, Deputy Director, CISA
December 9, 2019
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10. Matthew Travis, Deputy Director, CISA
December 9, 2019
Understanding Foreign Influence in 5 Easy Steps
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11. Matthew Travis, Deputy Director, CISA
December 9, 2019
DHS Approach
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• Adversary TTPs
• Narratives: Likely and Emerging
• Target Audience
Quantify
Inoculate
Mitigate
Identify
• Message impact
• Channel effectiveness
• Target Audience response
• Build awareness of risk
• Provide “pre-bunk” messaging
• Rapidly distribute
messaging
• Share incident information

12. Matthew Travis, Deputy Director, CISA
December 9, 2019
Recognize the Risk
Secure Systems
Coordinate with Social Media Platforms
Avoid Amplifying Disinformation
 Question the source
 Investigate the issue
 Think before you link
 Talk to your circle
Report incidents
What Can You Do?
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13. Matthew Travis, Deputy Director, CISA
December 9, 2019
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