Microsoft Corporation has revealed that Russian cyber-influence operations are now targeting the Kamala Harris-Tim Walz campaign in the lead-up to the 2024 presidential election. The tech giant’s Threat Analysis Center (MTAC) published a blog post on Tuesday detailing the observed shift in Russian tactics. Two Russian actors, identified as Storm-1516 and Storm-1679, have been under close scrutiny by MTAC.
Storm-1516, a Kremlin-aligned troll farm, has been responsible for producing and disseminating two inauthentic videos that have garnered millions of views. Meanwhile, Storm-1679, also reportedly connected to the Kremlin, has shifted its focus from the 2024 Paris Olympic Games to publishing false videos aimed at discrediting the Democratic nominee, Kamala Harris.
However, Russia isn’t the only nation engaging in influence operations to affect the election. Microsoft highlighted that a Chinese-linked influence actor, known as Storm-1852, has successfully pivoted to short-form video content critical of the Biden administration and the Harris campaign.
This revelation underscores the complexity of foreign interference facing the United States. Microsoft emphasized the need for public vigilance against these evolving threats. “Collectively, these three nation states — Iran, China and Russia — demonstrate the complexities of foreign interference that the US faces, and the need for the public to remain vigilant against these evolving threats,” stated the tech giant.
These cyber attacks on the Harris-Walz campaign come in the wake of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s public support for Vice President Harris in the 2024 presidential election, although his statement was likely intended sarcastically. U.S. intelligence officials have previously indicated that Russia is actively attempting to influence voters towards Donald Trump and away from Harris. In September, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence stated, “Russia, Iran, and China are trying by some measure to exacerbate divisions in U.S. society for their own benefit, and see election periods as moments of vulnerability.”
Reports also suggest that Russia has been employing American social media influencers to sway the 2024 U.S. presidential election. In August, Trump’s presidential campaign confirmed a security breach in its internal communications, suspecting that the attack was carried out by “foreign sources hostile to the U.S.”
The escalating use of cyber influence operations in the 2024 election cycle underscores the growing challenge of protecting the integrity of democratic processes in the digital age. It highlights the need for increased awareness, robust security measures, and collaborative efforts to counter foreign interference and misinformation campaigns.
