Microsoft confirmed on Tuesday that Russian disinformation operators are actively targeting the Harris-Walz campaign with inaccurate and misleading content.
At least three Russian actors have been identified in the operation, one of whom has been indicted by the US Department of Justice. The other two remain unnamed but use identities to continue their efforts to influence the 2024 US election.
Since August, these disinformation peddlers have circulated two videos. One of them depicts two black men kicking the shoes of a bloodied white woman or girl wearing a Trump shirt.
The video is intended to incite racial hostility and further divide the American electorate. Microsoft verified that the video is part of a bigger Russian disinformation operation, and its content aligns with others.
The second video involves an actor pretending to work for a non-existent San Francisco news outlet. In this fabricated report, the actor falsely claims that Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential candidate, hit and paralyzed a girl in 2011.
These videos fit a pattern established by Russian disinformation efforts in previous U.S. elections, especially the 2016 campaign.
Darren Linvill, a Clemson University professor specializing in media forensics, noted that this type of disinformation hits familiar marks.
The material is overtly racist, appeals to extremist worldviews, and plays into stereotypes, deepening pre-existing divisions within certain groups of voters. Such tactics are aimed at polarizing the electorate and destabilizing political discourse in the U.S.
The Russian Internet Research Agency (IRA), commonly referred to as a “troll factory,” was behind much of the disinformation spread in 2016. Back then, IRA employees posed as Americans with extreme views, using social media to stir political unrest.
This time, similar strategies are being employed, though the focus has shifted to new targets, with the Harris-Walz campaign being a major one.
U.S. intelligence officials have pointed out that Russia’s disinformation campaign is part of a broader effort to support candidates who align more closely with its strategic interests, particularly regarding Ukraine.
Kamala Harris, who supports continued arms aid to Ukraine, has been a clear target of Russian interference. In contrast, Donald Trump, who has often praised Russian President Vladimir Putin, has been seen as more favorable by Russian operatives.
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In addition to Russia, other countries such as Iran and China are interfering in elections. Iran has been accused of attempting to damage Trump’s campaign through cyberattacks, while China is accused of undermining the democratic process in the United States by spreading disinformation about Harris and Trump. However, China’s efforts appear to be aimed more at confusing voters than at promoting a specific candidate.
As the November elections approach, Microsoft’s findings underline the persistent foreign intervention that jeopardizes the integrity of the US democratic system. Russian misinformation tactics continue to be a formidable force, attempting to distort public perception and weaken democratic institutions. With the Harris-Walz campaign under attack, voters should be aware of false information distributed online.
