A covert Russian disinformation group has been identified as the source of a fabricated hit-and-run story involving U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, according to research by Microsoft. The false claim, which spread across social media, alleged that Harris was involved in a 2011 hit-and-run incident in San Francisco, leaving a young girl paralyzed.
Disinformation Campaign by Russian Group “Storm-1516”
The disinformation was created and disseminated by a Kremlin-aligned group, dubbed “Storm-1516” by Microsoft researchers. The group produced a fake video featuring an actor playing the alleged victim and spread the false story through a website posing as a San Francisco news outlet, KBSF-TV, which does not exist.
Microsoft’s Threat Analysis Center revealed that Storm-1516 paid actors to impersonate victims or whistleblowers, producing misleading videos designed to fuel fake conspiracy theories. This recent campaign is part of Russia’s broader effort to influence the upcoming U.S. presidential election on November 5.
Russian Influence Campaigns Intensify Ahead of Election
The fabricated story involving Kamala Harris spread rapidly on social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter), under the hashtag #HitAndRunKamala, garnering over 2.7 million views. Microsoft said the timing of this disinformation effort aligns with Russia’s attempts to interfere in the U.S. election by deepening political divisions and eroding public support for continued U.S. military assistance to Ukraine.
This campaign marks a shift in Russia’s disinformation tactics. Initially struggling to pivot their efforts after President Biden’s exit from the 2024 race, Storm-1516 shifted focus toward Harris and her running mate, Tim Walz, producing content that implicated them in baseless scandals.
Russia’s Broader Disinformation Strategy
The fake news story is just one example of Russia’s efforts to destabilize U.S. politics. Earlier this month, the U.S. Justice Department charged two employees of the Russian state media network RT with money laundering, accusing them of funding an American company to produce content aimed at influencing the U.S. election.
U.S. officials believe that Russia’s overall goal is to exploit political divisions within the United States, weaken public resolve, and reduce support for Ukraine. Kamala Harris, if elected, has vowed to continue providing military assistance to Ukraine in its defense against Russia’s invasion.
As Russia ramps up its foreign influence operations, particularly through groups like Storm-1516, experts warn that disinformation will continue to be a significant threat leading up to the U.S. presidential election. The discovery of the fabricated Kamala Harris hit-and-run story is a stark reminder of the power of fake news in shaping public opinion and the critical need for vigilance against such campaigns.
