In a recent report released by Microsoft's Threat Analysis Center, it has been discovered that a false claim connecting Vice President Kamala Harris to a hit-and-run incident in June 2011 was created by a Russian troll farm. The report identifies the Kremlin-aligned group known as Storm-1516 as the source behind the fabricated story. Microsoft believes that this network, along with other Russian disinformation networks, is targeting the Harris-Walz campaign leading up to the November presidential election.

The hit-and-run claim initially surfaced in early September on a website called KBSF-TV, which posed as a local San Francisco news outlet. The article featured a five-minute video, in which a woman spoke about the alleged incident. However, Microsoft's report reveals that the woman in the video was a paid actor. The website itself was created on August 20 and was taken offline shortly after publishing the false claims.

CBS News was quick to debunk the hit-and-run story, as public records and news reports showed no evidence supporting the incident. The San Francisco Police Department confirmed that they had no records of such an incident. CBS News also analyzed the video and discovered that it contained several photos that were unrelated to the alleged incident.

Despite the debunking, the false story gained significant traction on social media platforms. X, formerly known as Twitter, saw posts featuring the article and video accumulate over 7 million views. The story was also shared on Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube. Additionally, pro-Russian channels on the popular messaging app Telegram amplified the claims.

Researchers at Microsoft have identified another Kremlin-aligned group, Storm-1679, which has also published videos aimed at discrediting Vice President Harris. One such video featured a fake New York City billboard with false claims about Harris' policies. Microsoft's report suggests that Russia continues to utilize cyber groups to amplify their messages through media websites and social channels, using divisive political content, staged videos, and AI-enhanced propaganda.

This pattern of targeting the Democratic candidate within 90 days of a presidential election is not new. Microsoft's observations from three consecutive elections reveal a consistent strategy employed by these covert influence operations.

Furthermore, the report also highlights Chinese-linked influence operations carried out by a group called Storm-1852. This group has created online personas posing as conservative U.S. voters supporting former President Donald Trump. They have also produced content critical of Trump, demonstrating a more complex web of influence tactics.

Microsoft has been actively monitoring and publishing reports on covert influence operations by various countries leading up to the U.S. presidential elections. In an August report, Iran was identified as being behind cyber attacks targeting U.S. institutions and candidates, as well as masquerading as local news sites in different states.

In response to concerns about foreign interference, Meta, the parent company of social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram, has announced a ban on Russian state media outlets from its apps worldwide. This action comes after the unsealed indictment accusing RT and its employees of funneling $10 million through shell entities to fund covert influence campaigns on social media channels like TikTok, Instagram, X, and YouTube.

As the election campaign intensifies, it is crucial for the public to be vigilant and critical of the information they encounter online, as foreign disinformation networks aim to sow division and undermine the democratic process.