Increased fake news offensive against Harris: Russia involved

Microsoft has uncovered attempts to influence the 2024 US elections. Manipulated videos and cyberattacks are intended to undermine trust in the candidates.

Washington, DC – After the TV debate between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, the 2024 US election campaign is entering its decisive phase. On November 5, the people of the USA will decide on the future of their country. But before that, foreign powers are apparently working in secret to influence the election.

On Tuesday (September 17), the software company Microsoft warned in a “Microsoft Threat Intelligence Report” of increased interference by Russian intelligence services in the 2024 US election. Groups close to the Kremlin are said to be using targeted online disinformation campaigns to discredit US presidential candidate Kamala Harris and her vice president Tim Walz.

Disinformation ahead of the 2024 US election: Fake Harris videos

The Kremlin has allegedly used fake videos to try to undermine public confidence and influence political sentiment. One of these videos, which has been viewed millions of times, shows alleged Harris supporters attacking a Trump supporter. Another video falsely claims that Harris paralyzed a young girl in a hit-and-run accident in 2011. Videos are also circulating with false claims about Harris’ political views.

This information is said to have been spread via a fake news site from San Francisco. Both videos were also available on the X platform, one of them with over 1.5 million views. According to Microsoft, the Russian groups Storm-1516, Ruza Flood and Storm-1679 are behind the videos. Microsoft warns that such actions are likely to continue until the 2024 US election.

Washington accuses Moscow of influencing the 2016 and 2020 elections in Trump’s favor. Microsoft says it has observed in the last three US presidential elections that Russian influence actors “focused their efforts on discrediting the Democratic candidate” – especially in the last 90 days before Election Day.

Putin announces alleged Harris support in 2024 US election

Russia’s fake news campaign against Harris began shortly after her candidacy was announced. “Russia’s propagandists have whipped up a cacophony of rampant racism, sexism and conspiracies,” says a report by PoliticoVladimir Putin had only recently come out as a Harris fan.

Putin had announced that Russia would prefer a victory for the Democratic candidate to a success for Donald Trump’s candidate. “Her laughter is so contagious,” he said of the vice president. In direct comparison to the Republican candidate, the Kremlin chief said: “Trump has made more allegations and sanctions against Russia than any president before him. And if Mrs. Harris is doing well, she may refrain from these kinds of measures.”

Interference in the 2024 US election: Three states stand out

Russia is not alone in its actions. Microsoft also observed the efforts of a China-linked group called Storm-1852, which spread critical content about Harris and Biden on social media. Storm-1852 created social media accounts to pose as conservative US voters who were voting for Trump. Microsoft noted that the group went silent after discovering its activities.

In addition to Russia and China, Iran is also suspected of actively trying to influence the 2024 US election. A report published by Microsoft in early August “detailed how Iranian cyber-enabled influence operations attempted to undermine the Republican campaign through targeted hack-and-leak operations, undercover social media personas, and US news sites run by imposters,” wrote Clint Watts, general manager of Microsoft’s Threat Analysis Center, in a blog post. (lw)