Foreign-created fake videos aim to cast doubt on U.S. election

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – U.S. officials are warning voters about foreign disinformation campaigns meant to infliuence voter behavior and undermine the integrity of the U.S. presidential election.
“We believe that China, Russia and Iran are all active in spreading false narratives, or at least misleading narratives, during the run up to election day. And it’s interesting, because we believe that they are intervening, and even though they are often considered to be on kind of the same side, undermining us narratives. In some cases, they’re undermining different candidates,” said Rob York of the Pacific Forum.
York says Russian trolls are attacking Vice President Kamala Harris, while Iran is targeting former president Donald Trump. China hasn’t backed a candidate but is inflaming tensions and sowing discord among Americans.
“You’re seeing things like Russia trying to stir people in Georgia, for instance, with false videos of Haitian migrants voting multiple times for Kamala Harris. You’re seeing things like Iranian sources targeting voters in Michigan, often Muslim voters in Michigan, things like that. So if it has an effect, it’ll probably be marginal. But in a very close election, that could count for a lot,” he added.
As the fake social media videos and posts go viral, a reminder to check the source of content claiming voter fraud.
“Be careful about what you’re consuming. Ask yourself, Does this video look logical? Does it appear to mesh with reality and honestly, like, what would be the consequences if this were true, if there were Haitian migrants voting multiple times, think about like, what kind of effect that would have, largely events that are taking place. You know, the results are not nearly as outlandish as people think,” York said.
Election officials reassure voters that ballots are secured and tracked, but with a lot at stake, the Republican Party is not taking any chances.
GOP leaders in Hawaii say they’re collecting reports of irregularities as part of a national effort — data that could be used to cast doubt on a Trump defeat and help make a case for overturning the election.
“They’re receiving duplicate votes, or they’re not even on the voter rolls, and they know that they have registered to vote. We are finding a couple people have been denied, and we’re asking people to send in all of this stuff. So it would be good to give turn that over,” Hawaii GOP Party president Tamara McCay.
Whatever the outcome on Tuesday, experts are urging voters to be skeptical of outrageous claims and stay calm.
After all, eliciting anger and creating division are what foreign adversaries want.
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