Facebook, tech companies meet with US intelligence services on election security for 2020

(Reuters) – American technology companies, including Facebook Inc (FB.O), Google Alphabet (GOOGL.O), Microsoft Corp (MSFT.O) and Twitter Inc (TWTR.N) met Wednesday with US intelligence agencies to discuss security strategies ahead of the November 2020 elections.

The corporate security teams met with officials from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Office of the National Intelligence Director and the Department of Homeland Security at Facebook's headquarters in Menlo Park.

"The goal was to build on previous discussions and further strengthen the strategic security collaboration of the US federal, presidential and presidential elections in 2020," said Nathaniel Gleicher, Cybersecurity Policy Officer. Facebook, in a statement.

"Specifically, participants explained how industry and government could improve the way we share information and coordinate our response to better detect and deter threats."

Social media companies are under pressure to boost security after what US intelligence agencies have called a massive Russian cyberimpact operation to help President Donald Trump to be elected in 2016. Russia has repeatedly denied these accusations .

"This is a joint effort in response to a common threat and we are determined to do our part," a Twitter spokeswoman told Reuters in a statement.

Microsoft and Google have also confirmed their attendance at the meeting.

"At Google, we've invested in robust systems to detect phishing and hacking attempts, identify foreign interference on our platforms, and protect campaigns against digital attacks. But technology is only part of the solution, "said Richard Salgado, director of law enforcement and information security at Google.

"It is essential that industry, law enforcement and other police forces work together to prevent any threat to the integrity of our elections."