Watch Kill Chain: The Cyber War on America's Elections

Kill Chain: The Cyber War on America's Elections is a documentary about the threats that cyber attacks pose to America's democracy. The film takes a deep dive into the vulnerabilities of the American electoral system and how hackers can potentially manipulate it to their advantage. The documentary is directed by Simon Ardizzone, Russell Michaels, and Sarah Teale, and was released in 2020. It features interviews with cybersecurity experts such as J. Alex Halderman, Sue Halpern, and Nathaniel Herz, who provide insights into the complexities of cyberwarfare and its potential impact on American elections.

The film starts off with an overview of the 2016 US Presidential Election and the alleged Russian interference that occurred during the campaign. This sets the stage for the main focus of the documentary - the vulnerability of the American voting system to cyber attacks. Kill Chain then examines the different components of election infrastructure, such as voting machines, voter registration databases, and tabulation systems, and how they are vulnerable to hacking.

The documentary explores how cyber attackers could potentially sway the results of an election, either by altering the votes cast or by sowing distrust in the electoral process. It highlights the fact that many voting machines in use today are outdated and lack basic security measures, making them easy targets for hackers. In addition, it looks at the possibility of hacking voter registration databases, which contain personal information about voters that can be used to manipulate them.

Kill Chain also examines the role of social media in spreading disinformation and propaganda during an election. It shows how fake news stories can be amplified online, potentially swaying the opinions of voters. The film looks at the 2016 Presidential Election and how Russian influence campaigns used social media to sway public opinion and help elect Donald Trump.

The documentary continues to explore how vulnerabilities in the electoral system can be exploited, and how this can undermine the integrity of democracy. It explores different scenarios and how they could play out in an election, highlighting the need for a comprehensive response strategy.

Throughout Kill Chain, there is a sense of urgency and a call to action. The experts interviewed in the film stress the need for more security measures to be put in place to safeguard the American electoral system. They argue that it is not a question of if a cyber attack will happen, but when. The documentary concludes with a reminder of the importance of democratic values and the need to protect them from those who would seek to undermine them.

Overall, Kill Chain: The Cyber War on America's Elections is a sobering and thought-provoking documentary that shines a spotlight on the very real threats that cyber attacks pose to the future of American democracy. It serves as a wake-up call for policymakers and citizens alike, highlighting the need for action to secure the integrity of the electoral system.

Kill Chain: The Cyber War on America's Elections is a 2020 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 32 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.5.