IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 23, 2020

No. 20-7

Contact:
Mokie Porter
301-996-0901

CISA and Vietnam Veterans of America Partner to Raise Awareness about the Threat of Disinformation

WASHINGTON — Vietnam Veterans of America and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (CISA) released a series of public-awareness products today designed to help veterans and other Americans identify disinformation and prevent its spread. The products include posters and other resources that will be posted to VVA.org and disseminated to VVA members and partners as part of a broader effort to build a more resilient electorate by encouraging the American public to trusted sources of information.

“We are very pleased to be able to cooperate with CISA/DHS in this vital endeavor to continue our work of defending the United States that we started so many years ago while in uniform. We encourage all veterans to take note of the tools provided and to use this information to combat foreign interference from wherever it comes. This is psychological warfare taken to an extreme, and it impacts our National Security,” said John Rowan, VVA National President.

“Foreign adversaries continue to seek ways to divide Americans and spread disinformation in an effort to undermine faith in our democracy,” said Matt Masterson, CISA Senior Cybersecurity Advisor. “The strongest defense against disinformation is an informed public, and by working with VVA, we will be able to reach more Americans and arm them with what they need to spot and stop disinformation. Our veterans have always stepped up when called upon, and once again, they can play a crucial role in defending our democratic process from foreign interference.”

In September 2019, VVA made public the results of a two-year investigation into foreign entities targeting servicemembers, veterans, and their families online. VVA’s 191-page document, posted at vva.org/trollreport, details how foreign trolls target the military and veterans community for the purposes of sowing discord in our democracy, perpetrating financial fraud, and spreading anti-American propaganda.

CISA and VVA will continue to promote these products and raise awareness amongst veterans and all Americans about the risk of disinformation in the remaining two weeks before Election Day and beyond. The products are available here: https://vva.org/protect2020.