The FBI has issued a new warning about two fake videos aiming to spread doubt about the US presidential election. The videos, which falsely suggest election fraud and include misleading content about Vice President Kamala Harris’ husband, are part of a larger Russian influence operation, according to findings from BBC Verify. This operation has generated hundreds of misleading clips targeting the upcoming election.
Posted on social media platform X, the videos falsely appear to come from the FBI, complete with official logos. However, the FBI clarified that these clips are not authentic, warning that they “aim to erode trust in the electoral system.” The videos have had limited views by real users but show signs of fake engagement by bots.
The BBC’s investigation, conducted with online research firm Logically, has identified over 300 fake videos connected to a Russian-based operation since the start of the year. These videos mimic reputable US government agencies and media outlets, including the BBC, France 24, and Fox News, and have primarily focused on the election with misleading claims about civil unrest and the candidates.
Finland-based CheckFirst traced the operation to a Russian IP address and a Russian marketing agency. Although the Russian embassy denies these allegations, US intelligence agencies have recently confirmed that Russian actors manufactured other videos, including one falsely showing a poll worker destroying ballots for Trump.
As the election approaches, officials urge vigilance against such disinformation tactics, which could undermine confidence in the democratic process.
