The Digital Threat to Democracy

Cyber and digital attacks on campaigns and elections are a threat to our democracy and affect people of all political stripes. Over the past two years, nearly every election on both sides of the Atlantic has been affected by cyber-attacks. Foreign actors could target any political party at any time, and deterrence starts with strong cyber defense and public education. This discussion brings together leading voices from politics, national security and technology to examine threats and strategies for safeguarding our democratic institutions. The bipartisan initiative Defending Digital Democracy is co-sponsored by The Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Institute of Politics and the Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics, and Public Policy at Harvard Kennedy School Speakers: Heather Adkins, Manager Information Security, Google Molly McKew, Foreign Policy and Strategy Consultant, Information Warfare Expert and Writer Robby Mook, Senior Fellow, Defending Digital Democracy Project; Campaign Manager, Hillary Clinton Presidential Campaign Debbie Plunkett, Principal, Plunkett Associates LLC; Former Director National Security Agency’s Information Assurance Directorate Matt Rhoades, Senior Fellow, Defending Digital Democracy Project; Campaign Manager, Romney-Ryan 2012 presidential campaign Clint Watts, Senior Fellow, Center for Cyber and Homeland Security, George Washington University; Foreign Policy Research Institute Fellow Eric Rosenbach (moderator), Co-Director, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs; Co-Director, Defending Digital Democracy Project; Chief of Staff, United States Department of Defense (2015-2017); Assistant Secretary of Defense, United States Department of Defense (2014-2015) Learn more at