Microsoft Warns of Ongoing US Election Hoaxes by State Actors from Russia, Iran, and China

In recent months, the Microsoft Threat Analysis Center (MTAC) has consistently released reports detailing how state-sponsored actors are attempting to disseminate misinformation and online hoaxes related to the upcoming US presidential election. This includes activities by Iranian groups that allegedly targeted the email account of an unnamed former presidential candidate.

Now, with less than two weeks remaining before Election Day on November 5, MTAC has published its latest findings on these disruptive activities. According to a blog entry, entities associated with Russia have been ramping up their campaign to spread erroneous information about the Democratic presidential candidates, specifically Kamala Harris and Tim Walz, who are vying for the presidency and vice-presidency, respectively.

One notable tactic involved a manipulative deepfake video that circulated online, which falsely depicted Harris making disparaging remarks about her rival, Republican candidate Donald Trump. Microsoft elaborated:

Additionally, an operation linked to a Kremlin-affiliated troll group we monitor, known as Storm-1516, accused Harris of engaging in illegal poaching in Zambia. Moreover, another misleading video targeting Democratic vice-presidential nominee Tim Walz garnered over 5 million views on X within just 24 hours.

Microsoft also reported that a state-sponsored group from Iran, identified as Cotton Sandstorm, has been “actively scouting election-related platforms and media outlets.”Such activities may signal preparations for more aggressive maneuvers as November 5 draws closer.

Lastly, the report indicates that actors from China have been focusing their efforts on various lawmakers facing re-election this year, including US Representative Barry Moore and Senator Marsha Blackburn. The findings noted:

These actors have echoed antisemitic rhetoric, amplified corruption allegations, and endorsed opposition candidates. Although these initiatives have not always achieved high engagement levels, they illustrate China’s persistent effort to sway US politics across various fronts.

Microsoft’s MTAC team plans to keep a close watch on these activities in the upcoming weeks, suggesting that these actors may shift their focus to generating misinformation regarding the election’s integrity once the votes are tallied.

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