Russia-Linked Disinformation Campaign Targets Kamala Harris and 2024 US Election
A sophisticated disinformation campaign orchestrated by a Russia-linked troll farm has targeted Vice President Kamala Harris and the upcoming 2024 US presidential election, according to a new threat intelligence report from Microsoft. The campaign, which involved a fabricated story about Harris being involved in a hit-and-run accident, highlights the evolving tactics of foreign actors seeking to interfere in US politics. The report also details how Russian intelligence actors are collaborating with pro-Russian cyber “hacktivists” to amplify allegedly hacked materials, raising concerns about potential efforts to undermine confidence in the election outcome.
The fabricated story, which spread rapidly across social media, featured a video of a young Black woman claiming to be the victim of a hit-and-run accident caused by Harris 13 years prior. The video, disseminated through a fake news website mimicking a San Francisco television station, quickly raised suspicions due to inconsistencies and readily apparent fabrications. The website, created shortly before the video’s release, contained plagiarized content and the purported victim’s name was spelled differently in the video and accompanying text. Further investigation revealed that the X-ray images used in the video were taken from online medical journals.
Microsoft’s report identifies the source of the disinformation as Storm-1516, a Russia-linked influence network also known as CopyCop. This group is known for creating authentic-seeming “whistleblower” accounts that exploit current events to spread fabricated stories. The report highlights another video disseminated by the same group, depicting a staged attack at a Trump rally, aiming to incite racial tensions and further polarize the American public.
The timing of these disinformation campaigns, coinciding with the heated political climate of an election year, underscores the vulnerability of the electorate to manipulative tactics. As the election draws closer, individuals are more likely to engage with information from unfamiliar or unverified sources, increasing the potential impact of such campaigns. The emotional nature of the fabricated stories, especially the alleged hit-and-run incident, is designed to evoke strong reactions and bypass critical thinking.
The report also reveals a shift in focus for another Russian influence actor, Storm-1679, which has recently pivoted from topics related to the French election and the Paris Olympics to targeting Harris. This group disseminated a manipulated video linking Harris to gender-affirming surgeries, demonstrating a concerted effort to exploit divisive social issues. While these recent campaigns have employed traditional manipulation techniques rather than advanced AI, Microsoft’s ongoing monitoring suggests that nation-state actors are constantly experimenting with different methods to maximize their impact.
The underlying motivation behind these Russian-backed disinformation campaigns appears to be undermining support for Ukraine within the US. The groups tracked by Microsoft target individuals who support Ukraine and its fight against Russian aggression, regardless of their political affiliations. This aligns with Russia’s broader geopolitical goals and its attempts to influence US foreign policy. The report notes that Russia’s preference in the US presidential election remains unclear, despite a seemingly jocular endorsement of Harris by Putin, conflicting with intelligence suggesting a preference for Trump.
Beyond Russian influence operations, the report also touches on activities by Chinese-linked actors who have employed short-form videos to criticize both Biden and Trump. This suggests a different strategy, focused on sowing general discord and confusion within the American electorate rather than explicitly supporting a particular candidate. The multifaceted nature of these foreign interference attempts highlights the challenges facing the US in safeguarding its democratic processes and ensuring the integrity of the 2024 election.