The FBI and other federal agencies have determined that a viral video showing a person tearing up ballots in Pennsylvania was manufactured and amplified by Russian actors. The U.S. intelligence community believes that this video is part of a broader effort by Moscow to undermine trust in the integrity of the U.S. election and further divide Americans. The video, which was swiftly circulated on social media platforms, was later debunked by local authorities in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.
The Russian Embassy in Washington did not respond to requests for comment, and the Kremlin has denied any involvement in U.S. elections. Experts identified the viral video as part of a Russian disinformation campaign known as Storm-1516, which aims to undermine democracy and create doubt in the electoral process. The FBI and other agencies have warned of increasing foreign efforts to meddle in U.S. elections, with countries like Russia, Iran, and China seeking to exploit divisions within American society for their own benefit.
In addition to the Russian disinformation campaign, the FBI and CISA are also investigating unauthorized access to commercial telecommunications infrastructure, with reports of Chinese hackers targeting the phones of former President Donald Trump and his running mate. Three Iranian nationals were indicted last month for attempting to hack the Trump campaign and provide stolen material to then-candidate Joe Biden. Despite these efforts, the intelligence community has stated that there is currently no information indicating that recipients associated with Biden’s campaign responded to the emails.
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