Russia steps up attacks on Kamala Harris campaign
The US presidential election is once again the target of foreign interference. According to a report published by Microsoft on September 17, 2024, Kremlin-linked groups have stepped up their efforts to discredit the campaign of Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris by spreading conspiracy videos. These attacks raise growing concerns about Russian influence on the US election.
Viral videos to discredit Harris
In late August, the Kremlin-affiliated influence group “Storm-1516” produced and released two videos aimed at undermining the credibility of Kamala Harris and her running mate Tim Walz. One video purportedly showed Harris supporters attacking a person falsely identified as attending a Trump rally. A second, also false, video claimed that Harris had been involved in a car accident in 2011, paralyzing a young girl, before fleeing the scene.
These videos, widely shared on social networks, have reached millions of views, helping to amplify disinformation in the run-up to the American presidential election.
Microsoft emphasizes that this disinformation campaign is part of a broader strategy to exploit perceived weaknesses in the candidates. “Focusing on the Harris-Walz campaign demonstrates a strategic willingness by Russian actors to exploit any perceived vulnerability,” said Clint Watts, general manager of Microsoft’s Threat Analysis Center. He also warned that these attacks could intensify as Election Day approaches.
In addition to Storm-1516, another Russian group, “Storm-1679,” initially active in disinformation campaigns around the Paris 2024 Olympics, has also produced content aimed at discrediting Kamala Harris.
In the face of growing interference, tech giants like Meta have taken steps to limit access to Russian disinformation groups’ platforms. On September 16, Meta, the owner of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, banned Russian media group Rossiya Segodnia, RT’s parent company, from using its platforms worldwide. The move follows accusations from Washington that RT used shell companies to conduct influence campaigns on social media.
US Senate Hearing on Foreign Threats
The Microsoft report was released on the eve of a hearing by the US Senate Intelligence Committee focused on foreign threats to the 2024 elections. US authorities, who fear an intensification of online disinformation efforts, remain particularly vigilant against these attempts at interference, particularly those coming from Russia.
Earlier this year, the Justice Department revealed another Russian disinformation campaign, involving bots and fake accounts on X (formerly Twitter), aimed at polarizing American public opinion.
