Microsoft announced on Tuesday that Russian operatives have recently intensified their online attacks against Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign, creating and spreading videos that promote “outlandish conspiracy theories” designed to exacerbate racial and political divisions in the U.S.
One misleading video, which Microsoft reported has been viewed millions of times, falsely depicted Harris supporters attacking a Donald Trump rally attendee. Another video inaccurately claimed that Harris was responsible for paralyzing a young girl in a hit-and-run incident in 2011. Microsoft researchers noted that this latter story was promoted through a website masquerading as a local San Francisco news outlet.
As of Tuesday afternoon, both videos remained accessible on X, with one post alone accumulating 1.5 million views. CNN has reached out to the social media platform for comment.
This report highlights a growing trend of Kremlin-linked trolls and digital operatives working to undermine Harris’s campaign just weeks before the presidential election. U.S. intelligence agencies had warned in July that Russia intended to “covertly use social media” to influence public opinion and weaken support for Ukraine in key swing states.
Russia’s strategy in the presidential race has not changed since 2020 or 2016, when Moscow engaged in various influence operations aimed at disparaging Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton, respectively, according to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.
CNN has also sought comments on the Microsoft report from the Harris-Walz campaign and the Russian Embassy in Washington, D.C.
