A false claim that Vice President Kamala Harris was involved in a hit-and-run incident in San Francisco in 2011 is now being revealed as part of a covert Russian disinformation campaign. According to new research conducted by Microsoft, the operation was orchestrated by a Kremlin-aligned group known as Storm-1516, a troll farm with a history of spreading misleading and scandalous information. The research details how the group fabricated an entire narrative, including creating a video, hiring an actor to play the supposed victim, and disseminating the claim through a fake website.
The fictitious news site, branded as KBSF-TV, was created to lend credibility to the fabricated story. Online registration records show that the website was created just before the first post about the supposed hit-and-run incident. The story falsely claimed that Harris had been involved in a collision that left a 13-year-old girl paralyzed. The sensationalized claim quickly spread on social media platforms, including X (formerly Twitter), under the hashtag #HitAndRunKamala. As the disinformation gained momentum, the video of the incident was viewed over 2.7 million times, further intensifying the spread of the false narrative.
Microsoft’s findings suggest that Russia’s disinformation efforts are ramping up as the 2024 U.S. presidential election approaches. The use of a fake news story targeting Kamala Harris is seen as part of a broader strategy aimed at influencing public opinion and sowing discord within the United States.
In a blog post published on Tuesday, Microsoft noted that Russian influence operations initially struggled to adapt to the shifting political landscape following President Biden’s withdrawal from the race.
However, by late August, Storm-1516 began producing content that implicated Harris, as well as Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, in various fabricated conspiracy theories.
Storm-1516 is notorious for producing videos that feature on-screen or voice actors impersonating whistleblowers or journalists. These actors often present false, scandalous information in a way that appears credible to viewers. The group’s latest effort to implicate Harris in a hit-and-run is one example of how they continue to exploit disinformation tactics to spread politically motivated falsehoods. Microsoft’s Threat Analysis Center has highlighted how the pro-Russian ecosystem, made up of various entities, worked to advance the video and its claims, amplifying the reach and impact of the fabricated story.
The implications of this disinformation campaign are significant, as it demonstrates the lengths to which foreign actors, especially those with ties to Russia, are willing to go in order to influence U.S. elections and weaken the country’s political stability. U.S. officials have consistently warned about Russian interference in American political processes. In fact, earlier this month, the U.S. Justice Department filed money-laundering charges against two employees of the Russian state media network RT, accusing them of being involved in a scheme to hire an American company to produce content aimed at influencing the election.
These disinformation campaigns are part of a larger strategy employed by Russia to deepen political divisions within the U.S. and undermine public support for American military aid to Ukraine. Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, U.S. aid to Ukraine has been a contentious issue in American politics, with some voices advocating for a reduction in support. By promoting false narratives and conspiracy theories, Russia hopes to erode bipartisan consensus on this critical issue and further divide the American public.
Kamala Harris, who is running for president in the 2024 election, has publicly stated her commitment to continuing U.S. support for Ukraine if elected. As a prominent figure in the Democratic Party, Harris has been a target of disinformation campaigns designed to discredit her and undermine her political standing. The fabricated hit-and-run story is just the latest example of how disinformation can be weaponized to attack candidates and influence voters.
The discovery of this disinformation effort highlights the ongoing challenge of combating foreign interference in democratic elections. With social media platforms like X being used as vehicles for spreading false claims, the responsibility to detect and counter these efforts falls on tech companies, researchers, and government agencies alike. The upcoming election is likely to see an increase in similar tactics as foreign actors intensify their efforts to shape the political narrative in the U.S.
While the false claims about Kamala Harris may seem outlandish, the rapid spread of such disinformation underscores the importance of vigilance. Public awareness of disinformation campaigns, combined with swift action from platforms and authorities, is essential in preventing these efforts from gaining traction. As Microsoft’s research shows, Russia’s efforts to influence U.S. elections are ongoing, and the fight against disinformation is far from over.
