As the U.S. presidential election approaches, fresh insights reveal that Russia is intensifying its disinformation efforts, particularly targeting Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. A recent Microsoft report highlights how the Kremlin is leveraging fake videos and deceptive social media accounts to exert influence in the electoral process.
The analysis from Microsoft’s Threat Analysis Center indicates that after initially struggling to redirect its focus from President Biden, who stepped out of the 2024 presidential race in July, Russian influence operations began ramping up in August. These campaigns have increasingly targeted the new Democratic candidates.
Clint Watts, the general manager of the Threat Analysis Center, pointed out in a blog post that this strategic pivot underscores Russian actors’ intention to exploit perceived vulnerabilities within the Harris-Walz campaign.
The U.S. government has recently intensified its scrutiny of Russian influence tactics, reportedly aimed at supporting former President Donald Trump’s bid to reclaim the presidency.
In its report, Microsoft identified multiple disinformation campaigns that have shifted their focus to Vice President Harris. One notable example involves unfounded accusations linking Harris to a hit-and-run incident, propagated through a fraudulent website masquerading as a local news outlet. Microsoft emphasized that the associated claims lack any substantiation and the supposed media outlet is non-existent.
The report reveals that these tactics mirror previous operations documented by Microsoft, which have been linked to a former deputy sheriff residing in Moscow. Another dubious video attributed to the same operation falsely depicted an attack by alleged Harris supporters on a Trump rally attendee, garnering millions of views.
Additional videos disseminating conspiracy theories concerning Harris’s policies seem to originate from a different Russian influence initiative previously noted for spreading fear related to the Paris Olympics. One video purporting to showcase a fabricated billboard in Times Square made false claims about Harris and was disseminated through social media, rapidly amassing over 100,000 views shortly after its release.
Furthermore, a third campaign continues to operate covert social media channels targeting American audiences, amplifying materials from Russian-linked hackers while posting fictitious investigations and making criticisms against the Harris-Walz campaign concerning immigration policies.
As Election Day approaches, Microsoft predicts an escalation in the onslaught of disinformation campaigns targeting Harris and Walz, with indications that rival nations like Iran and China are also making concerted efforts to influence U.S. voters.