US intelligence agencies say “Russian influence actors” are behind a suspected fake video of a Haitian man who claims to have voted “multiple times” in Georgia. The 20-second video, which has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times on X and other social networks, shows two men in a car claiming to be Haitian.
He claims that he got US citizenship after six months of coming and has voted for Kamala Harris in Gwinnett and Fulton counties in Georgia. They are urging other Haitians to come to the United States. The has discovered obvious signs, including a bad address and stock photos, which suggest the video is a forgery.
Russians Created Fake Video
This Russian activity is part of Moscow’s broader effort to raise unfounded questions about the integrity of the US election and stoke divisions among Americans,” the joint statement from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency explained.
Researchers at Clemson University said that the video bore the hallmarks of a Russian disinformation operation known as Storm-1516.“This narrative is consistent with what we’ve seen from Storm-1516, especially in recent weeks since they’ve turned their focus squarely on the US election,” said Clemson’s Darren Linvill.
We should absolutely not be surprised that they are focused on undermining the integrity of the US election. “This is consistent with Russian strategy over the last two election cycles.”
Linvill said the “narrative focus, style and production of the video” match previous efforts by the Russian operation, which is linked, Clemson researchers say, to an organisation called the Russian Foundation to Battle Injustice.
Experts say it’s all part of a larger strategy that Russian operatives have used to manipulate social media narratives by targeting specific demographics and inflaming hot-button topics. By creating content around divisive issues like voter fraud, foreign actors hope to amplify tensions and polarize voters on critical issues ahead of Election Day.
The misleading video initially spread across several social media platforms before it was identified by US agencies to be a fabrication. Agencies then made contact with major platforms to have the content removed. However, many users had already shared it; discussions and some of the content surrounding the video had already spread even after its removal.
Videos like these are made to elicit strong emotions, which is why they’re so successful at sharing misinformation,” said media analyst Karen Douglas, specializing in disinformation campaigns. “The creators take advantage of existing anxieties around the electoral process and target vulnerabilities in public discourse at the most susceptible points.
Haitian-American community leaders expressed frustrations over the video, stating that it was a flagrant means of propaganda to manipulate public perception of immigrant communities. “This kind of disinformation not only misrepresents us but also sows unnecessary suspicion toward immigrant communities,” said Jean-Baptiste Morisseau, a leader in a Haitian-American advocacy group. “Our community deserves better than being used as a pawn in foreign propaganda.
As a result, U.S. officials are ramping up their efforts to track foreign interference, stressing that this misleading content might only escalate further before Election Day. Agencies remind the public to be vigilant of all online contents coming from unknown sources and seek information only from authorized outlets.
Experts say it’s also important for voters to understand these tactics, even as the intelligence community and social media companies work to combat foreign interference. Efforts to disrupt and divide, they warn, will likely continue as foreign actors adapt their methods and create new forms of disinformation.
The dubious “Haitian voters” video serves as a relevant reminder to be digital literate in the information ecosystem of today; and it is amid all these that U.S. officials have called on the public to be vigilant and informed, as misinformation spreads like wildfire with just one click. Critical thinking has never been so necessary in the protection of such processes as democratic ones.
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