Russian actors were behind a viral video that falsely depicted a person tearing up ballots in Pennsylvania, according to the FBI and other federal agencies. The U.S. intelligence community determined that the video was part of a broader effort by Moscow to undermine trust in the integrity of the U.S. election and sow division among Americans. The video gained hundreds of thousands of views before being debunked by authorities in Bucks County, who deemed it fabricated.
The video, which featured actors posing as Black Americans with West African accents, was attributed to the Russian disinformation production team known as Storm-1516. The team was previously uncovered by researchers at Clemson University’s Media Forensics Hub. The video is part of a campaign aimed at undermining the electoral process and spreading doubt in democracy and institutions.
The joint statement from federal agencies regarding the video is the latest warning about foreign efforts to meddle in U.S. elections. Russia, Iran, and China have been identified as countries trying to exacerbate divisions in U.S. society for their own benefit. The FBI and CISA are also investigating unauthorized access to commercial telecommunications infrastructure, with reports suggesting that a Chinese hacking campaign targeted former President Donald Trump and his running mate, Sen. JD Vance of Ohio.
Three Iranian nationals were indicted last month for attempting to hack the Trump campaign and provide stolen material to President Joe Biden’s campaign. However, there is currently no information indicating that recipients associated with Biden’s campaign responded to the emails. Iran has denied its role in the operation.
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