WASHINGTON: A false claim circulating on social media suggests that Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris left a 13-year-old girl paralyzed in a hit-and-run incident in San Francisco in 2011. New research from Microsoft indicates this claim is part of a covert Russian disinformation campaign.
Researchers discovered that the operation produced a video, hired an actor to portray the alleged victim, and disseminated the claim via a fake website for a non-existent San Francisco news outlet called “KBSF-TV.”
Microsoft identifies the group behind this, dubbed Storm-1516, as a Kremlin-aligned troll farm. A spokesperson for the Russian embassy in Washington did not respond to requests for comment. According to a blog post by Microsoft, “Russian influence operations initially struggled to pivot their tactics following President Biden’s withdrawal from the U.S. 2024 presidential race.” However, starting in late August, elements of Storm-1516 began producing content that implicated Vice President Harris and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz in bizarre conspiracy theories.
Experts note that Storm-1516 is known for creating misleading videos featuring actors impersonating whistleblowers or journalists spreading false information. The KBSF-TV website was registered shortly before its first article about the alleged incident was published. The claim gained traction on social media platforms, including X.com, under the hashtag #HitAndRunKamala.
On September 3, the video was shared on X.com by Aussie Cossack, urging followers to “make this go viral MAGA folks.” The video has reportedly been viewed over 2.7 million times.
Earlier this month, the U.S. Justice Department filed money-laundering charges against two employees of the Russian state media network RT for allegedly hiring an American firm to create online content aimed at influencing the election.
U.S. officials assert that Russia’s objective is to deepen political divisions in the U.S. and undermine public support for military aid to Ukraine. Harris has stated that if elected, she will continue to support Ukraine in its defense against Russia’s invasion.
