One of these videos asserts that the FBI has detained "three linked groups committing ballot fraud," while the other makes claims about Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff. "These videos are not authentic, are not from the FBI, and the content they depict is false," said the FBI in a formal statement.

This announcement highlights the growing concern among federal and state authorities over misinformation and the impact of deepfakes as the election approaches. The urgency of the situation was underscored last month when the office of the director of national intelligence released an assessment indicating that a Russian propaganda unit had "manufactured and amplified" false content accusing the Democratic vice-presidential candidate of committing illegal activities during his earlier career as a high school teacher.

The disturbing trend of misinformation is not confined to one video. Just last Friday, intelligence officials disclosed that Russian operatives had created a video falsely claiming that individuals from Haiti were illegally voting in multiple counties in Georgia. Another video, also linked to Russian sources, falsely accused a person associated with the Democratic presidential ticket of accepting a bribe from a U.S. entertainer, according to the office of the director of national intelligence.

With the election drawing near, intelligence officials have cautioned that Russia is expected to continue its disinformation campaign. Additional media content aimed at undermining trust in the election's integrity and creating divisions among Americans is likely to surface in the coming days and after the election. Authorities are urging the public to stay vigilant and critically assess the authenticity of online content.