A false claim circulating on social media that Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris left a 13-year-old girl paralyzed after an alleged hit-and-run in San Francisco in 2011 is the work of a covert Russian disinformation campaign, according to new research from Microsoft.
Researchers found that the operation created a video, paid an actor to appear as the alleged victim, and spread the claim via a fake website for a non-existent San Francisco news outlet called “KBSF-TV.” The Russian group responsible, which Microsoft has named Storm-1516, has been described as a Kremlin-affiliated troll farm.
Microsoft said the findings indicate that Russia is increasing its foreign influence efforts ahead of the November 5 presidential election.
A spokesman for the Russian Embassy in Washington did not respond to a request for comment.
“Russian influence operations initially focused on the Democratic campaign struggled to gain traction after President Biden dropped out of the 2024 U.S. presidential race,” Microsoft said in a blog published on Tuesday.
“However, in late August, elements of the well-known Russian actor Storm-1516 began producing content implicating Vice President Harris and Governor Walz in bizarre false conspiracy theories,” Microsoft said, referring to Harris’ fellow candidate Tim Walz.
Experts say Storm-1516 is known for creating deceptive videos in which on-screen or voice actors impersonate informants or journalists to share false, scandalous information.
According to online registration records, a website for KBSF-TV was created shortly before it published its first related article about the alleged driving incident. The claim was circulated on social media platforms including X.com using the #HitAndRunKamala hashtag.
The video was also shared on September 3 on X.com by Australian Cossack, who describes himself as a “registered foreign agent for Sputnik News,” with the message “Make this viral MAGA guys.” In total, the video is estimated to have been viewed over 2.7 million times.
“Multiple entities within the pro-Russian ecosystem amplified the video and its claims,” Microsoft’s Threat Analysis Center said. “Storm-1516 relies on certain personalities, such as the Australian Cossack, for amplification of its videos.”
Cossack did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Earlier this month, the US Justice Department charged two employees of Russian state media network RT with money laundering in what authorities said was a scheme to hire an American company to produce online content aimed at influencing the election.
U.S. officials say Russia’s goal is to exacerbate political divisions in the United States and undermine public support for U.S. military aid to Ukraine. Harris says she would continue to support Ukraine in its defense against Russian aggression if elected.
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