The U.S. Department of Justice is grappling with an alarming surge in violent threats directed towards public officials and election workers, according to Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco. Speaking at the POLITICO AI & Tech Summit on Tuesday, Monaco described the level of threats as unprecedented and extremely disturbing.

Monaco revealed that U.S. attorney's offices across the country are receiving urgent reports almost every day, detailing threats against prosecutors, law enforcement agents, judges, and election officials, including volunteers. The potential risk posed to state and local election workers who will oversee the upcoming November vote is particularly troubling, she emphasized.

During her address, Monaco stressed the challenging environment faced by election officials, whether they are elected secretaries of state who receive hostile threats on various platforms, or volunteers trying to ensure a fair election process. The Department of Justice is actively working to identify those responsible for the threats and bring them to justice.

The seriousness of the situation was further highlighted by an unnamed former Homeland Security intelligence and counterterrorism official, who described it as the most complex, dynamic, and dangerous threat environment they had ever experienced. The rise of targeted threats has led to concerns regarding the safety of public officials and the integrity of the election process.

In other discussions at the summit, the evolving landscape of political campaigns was also explored. Eric Wilson, senior vice president at Bullpen Strategy Group, highlighted the shift away from mass marketing campaigns to a more targeted approach. Wilson reminisced about the previous 50 years, where brute-forcing messages through TV advertising, radio, and voter contact was the norm. He noted that campaigns are now returning to a more individualized approach, reminiscent of the partisan-funded media of the past.

Lindsey Schuh Cortés, CEO of TargetSmart and former chief technology officer of the Democratic National Committee, further elaborated on the evolving campaign strategies. Utilizing technology, campaigns now aim to reach voters on an individual level, whether through household mail, text messages, or digital and addressable TV. This highly targeted approach has become the standard, moving away from trying to appeal to broad demographic groups.

Furthermore, Cortés discussed how the Democratic National Convention this year focused on producing content that could be effectively distributed through social media. The ability to serve the right content to the right audience has become crucial in the digital age.

Meanwhile, Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota expressed concern about the influx of nefarious activities leading up to the November election. Klobuchar, who sponsored legislation to address AI-generated deep fakes and require disclaimers on political ads created using AI, lamented the delay in advancing her bills. She warned of rampant bad behavior from foreign interests and other forms of influence involving misleading videos and photos, making it increasingly difficult to discern the truth.

The increase in threats against election officials, the evolution of political campaigns, and the challenges posed by emerging technologies highlight the complex landscape surrounding the upcoming election. As the Justice Department focuses on identifying and prosecuting those responsible for the threats, there is growing recognition of the need for heightened vigilance to ensure the integrity of the democratic process.