Hacking attempt on US Federal Election Commission knocks out e-filing system
The US Federal Election Commission's electronic filing system went offline after a hacker or hackers targeted its website, a week before the 3 November midterms. The FEC says staff are working to restore service; it has no role in running elections.
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The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2The US Federal Election Commission's website has been targeted by a hacker or hackers, disrupting the agency's electronic filing system a week before the 3 November elections, according to an email seen by Reuters. CNAN “The US Federal Election Commission's website has been targeted by a hacker or hackers, disrupting the agency's electronic filings system a week before the November 3 elections, according to an email seen by Reuters.” Read at CNA ↗ The Jerusalem PostRC “disrupting the agency's electronic filings system a week before the November 3 elections, according to an email seen by Reuters” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗ Centre · 1An earlier version of the report said the email indicated a hacker was attempting to breach the agency's systems and that the FEC had to "temporarily shut down" its web-facing services as a result. CNAN “A hacker is attempting to breach the US Federal Election Commission's systems and that agency has had to "temporarily shut down" its web-facing services as a result” Read at CNA ↗ Mixed · 2In a statement, the FEC said its electronic filing system was offline and its IT staff were working to restore service; it declined further comment. CNAN “"at this time, the FEC’s electronic filing system is currently offline and our IT staff are actively working to restore service." It declined further comment.” Read at CNA ↗ The Jerusalem PostRC “It declined further comment on the outage.” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗
Mixed · 2A status message from the FEC said the filing system had been down since around 10 p.m. ET on Monday (0200 GMT Tuesday), and users could still search the website for past reports. CNAN “its filing system had been down since around 10 p.m. ET on Monday (0200 GMT Tuesday)” Read at CNA ↗ The Jerusalem PostRC “users could still search the website for past reports” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗ Centre · 1The outage prevents organisations from filing 24-hour and 48-hour spending reports, which show how much political groups and others are spending on specific races. CNAN “The outage prevents organizations from filing the FEC's 24-hour and 48-hour spending reports” Read at CNA ↗ Mixed · 2The FEC tracks the spending of candidates and political committees but does not administer US elections, so the outage should not affect voters' ability to cast ballots. CNAN “The FEC does not play a role in administering US elections and the outage should have no effect on voters' ability to cast ballots.” Read at CNA ↗ The Jerusalem PostRC “The FEC, which tracks the spending of candidates and political committees” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗
Right · 1Steven Mele, a partner at political finance compliance firm MBA Consulting Group, said he had never seen this in 26 years and that there would be less disclosure on the elections until it is fixed. The Jerusalem PostRC “"I've never seen this in 26 years," said Steven Mele, a partner at political finance compliance firm MBA Consulting Group.” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗ Centre · 1The midterms will determine whether President Donald Trump's Republicans keep their majorities in Congress for the next two years. CNAN “which will determine whether President Donald Trump's Republicans maintain their majorities in Congress for the next two years” Read at CNA ↗ Centre · 1The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and the FBI did not immediately respond to requests for comment, and the identity and aims of the hacker or hackers have not been reported. CNAN “The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and the FBI did not immediately return messages seeking comment.” Read at CNA ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre3 outlets
- Framing
- CNA ran Reuters copy, first as a short breaking item on a hacker trying to breach the FEC, then an expanded version on the outage and its effect on spending disclosure.
- Emphasis
- Outage, FEC statement, and that voting is unaffected.
- Leaves out or plays down
- The earlier item omits the election context and the lack of effect on voters.
Right2 outlets
- Framing
- The Jerusalem Post carried the Reuters report with the same facts and an added link to an expert warning on election finance transparency.
- Emphasis
- Transparency risk from the outage, with the Mele quote.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not report the 'temporarily shut down' wording from the earlier version.
- For example
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“FEC system outage threatens election finance transparency, expert warns” — The Jerusalem Post
What every side reports
- The FEC's website was targeted by a hacker or hackers, per an email seen by Reuters.
- The FEC's electronic filing system has been offline since about 10 p.m. ET Monday.
- The FEC said IT staff are working to restore service and declined further comment.
- CISA and the FBI did not immediately comment.
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A hacker or hackers targeted the FEC's systems, causing its electronic filing system to go offline.
Reported- Disputes 1
- Hindustan Times
- Reports 4
- CNA, Newsweek, The Jerusalem Post, Washington Examiner
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The outage should not affect voters' ability to cast ballots.
Supported- Supports 3
- CNA, Newsweek, Washington Examiner
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The filing outage stops 24-hour and 48-hour independent spending reports from being submitted.
Supported- Supports 3
- CNA, Newsweek, Washington Examiner
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre5 articles
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CNAN ·
Exclusive-Hackers target US FEC system, disrupting campaign finance disclosures days before midterms
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CNAN ·
Hacker trying to breach US Federal Election Commission system, email shows
Neutral Short Reuters breaking item via CNA on the attempted breach and shutdown of web-facing services.
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CNAN ·
Hacking attempts against US Federal Election Commission system triggered outage, email shows
Neutral Reuters copy via CNA reporting the outage and its limited impact, with the expert quote.
Show 1 moreShow fewer
Right2 articles
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Hacker trying to breach US Federal Election Commission system, email shows
Neutral Reuters copy carried by the Jerusalem Post, with an inserted link stressing transparency concerns.
- 27 Oct 18:44 First CNAN Hacker trying to breach US Federal Election Commission system, email shows
- 27 Oct 18:44 First CNAN Hacking attempts against US Federal Election Commission system triggered outage, email shows
- 27 Oct 18:44 First CNAN Exclusive-Hackers target US FEC system, disrupting campaign finance disclosures days before midterms
- 27 Oct 19:42 +57m The Jerusalem PostRC Hacker trying to breach US Federal Election Commission system, email shows
- 27 Oct 19:45 +1h 1m Hindustan TimesN US federal election commission shuts down some services on its website after hacking attempt: Report
- 27 Oct 20:26 +1h 42m Washington ExaminerR FEC faces website filing system outages the week before midterm elections
- 27 Oct 20:55 +2h 11m NewsweekN Federal Election Commission Offline After Hacking Attempt: Report
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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