Tech firms step up to confront online threats. But some ask, what about the White House?

Technology giants increasingly are casting themselves as defenders of online integrity as American democracy, yet again, comes under attack. A recent string of revelations from companies including Facebook, Microsoft and Google about foreign hacking and disinformation amount to a public answer to charges that the technology industry should have done more to thwart Russia’s online attacks in 2016. But the industry’s highly publicized moves against Russian and Iranian online meddling also have thrown into sharp relief the fractured response by the federal government, say experts, lawmakers and former US officials who have served in Democratic and Republican administrations.

They express frustration that a sophisticated, meticulously documented and allegedly criminal attack from Russia in 2016 has generated so little White House response, even as federal agencies are taking steps to forestall a repeat in 2018. They further wonder why — with the November midterm elections looming amid signs that Russia and other nations are ramping up their online interference campaigns — private companies have been left to take the most public roles in protecting the country from well-financed, hostile foreign government hackers and disinformation operatives. They also warn that foreign nations — especially Russia — are waging a multi-front assault on US democracy and its critical computer systems.

The FBI and other federal agencies have been quietly supplying intelligence that has helped tech companies make their discoveries. Several technology companies, including Facebook and Twitter, are meeting Aug 24 in San Francisco to discuss combating disinformation. No government representatives are expected to attend.