Russian actors launched a new disinformation campaign falsely accusing Vice President Kamala Harris of a hit-and-run incident, attempting to influence the 2024 U.S. election.

This fabricated story is part of a broader effort to undermine Democratic candidates, particularly those supporting Ukraine, as reported by Newsmax.

On September 2, a video surfaced on social media with a woman claiming Harris caused a hit-and-run that paralyzed her 13 years ago in San Francisco. The video gained attention, but inconsistencies quickly raised doubts.

The report was linked to a fake news outlet, KBSF-TV, with a plagiarized website, casting doubt on its legitimacy. The video also featured medical images traced to online journals, and the victim's name was inconsistently spelled, further fueling skepticism about the claim’s authenticity.

Microsoft Identifies Russian Troll Farm Behind Hoax

Microsoft’s new report confirms that a Russia-linked troll farm known as Storm-1516 orchestrated the disinformation campaign. This group, also referred to as "CopyCop" by some researchers, specializes in fabricating content using actors and traditional video editing techniques rather than relying on artificial intelligence.

Storm-1516 has a history of producing deceptive videos, including one that falsely showed two Black men attacking a white woman at a Donald Trump rally. These videos aim to stir outrage and division on social media, shaping public opinion ahead of the upcoming presidential election.

Clint Watts, general manager of the Microsoft Threat Analysis Center, emphasized the shift away from AI-generated content in these campaigns. “As the election approaches, people get more heated. People tend to take in information from sources they don’t really know or wouldn’t even know to evaluate,” Watts explained.

Troll Farm Expands Targets To Harris

The report reveals that Storm-1679 has shifted from European topics to targeting Kamala Harris. A recent video manipulated footage to show Harris promoting gender-affirming surgeries on a Times Square billboard, another example of Russian-aligned actors attacking Democratic candidates, especially those with pro-Ukraine stances.

Watts explained that Russian groups “are motivated to undermine anyone who is supporting Ukraine in their policy.”

Meanwhile, Russian President Putin joked about supporting Harris at a public forum, though U.S. intelligence maintains that Moscow prefers Donald Trump as the 2024 election victor.

Traditional Techniques Used Over AI

Microsoft’s report highlights that Russian troll farms have apparently abandoned AI-generated content. Watts explained that while AI was initially explored as a tool for spreading disinformation, nation-state actors found traditional editing methods more effective. “They found AI probably more time-consuming and not more effective,” Watts noted, emphasizing the preference for human actors in crafting realistic but fake stories.

This shift has made disinformation campaigns more convincing, as they can better mimic legitimate news reports and personal testimonies. The Harris hit-and-run video is just one of several examples where these traditional techniques fabricated stories that spread quickly online.

Broader Implications For The 2024 Election

The larger Russian effort to sway the U.S. election includes the Harris disinformation campaign, specifically targeting candidates who support Ukraine. While Harris has become a focal point, she is not the only Democratic figure in the crosshairs. The report notes that Russian-aligned actors have employed similar tactics against other politicians with pro-Ukraine policies.

Microsoft’s report highlights that other nation-states, including Iran and China, are also engaging in disinformation campaigns. However, these countries are not specifically backing any candidates. Instead, they focus on creating division within U.S. society.

Trump Comments On Ukraine War Amid Disinformation Tensions

In the first presidential debate, former President Donald Trump took on the ongoing war in Ukraine, stating, “I want the war to stop.” Though Trump did not explicitly say whether he wanted Ukraine to win, his comments suggest a more neutral stance compared to Democratic candidates like Harris, who strongly support Ukraine.

As the 2024 election approaches, disinformation campaigns will intensify, aiming to destabilize American democracy and undermine confidence in the electoral process. Russian actors, in particular, have turned these campaigns into a persistent threat, exploiting divisions and spreading misleading information.

Microsoft’s report highlights the challenges posed by foreign interference in U.S. elections. As voters face false stories like the Harris hit-and-run video, the need to critically evaluate information grows more crucial than ever.