--- title: "Russian deepfake campaign targets US midterms with celebrity videos" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/politics/russian-deepfake-campaign-targets-us-midterms-with-celebrity-videos" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/russian-deepfake-campaign-targets-us-midterms-with-celebrity-videos" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/politics/russian-deepfake-campaign-targets-us-midterms-with-celebrity-videos.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/russian-deepfake-campaign-targets-us-midterms-with-celebrity-videos" category: "Politics" area: "United States" published: "2026-09-16T13:05:28.687Z" source_reported: "2026-09-16T04:00:01.000Z" updated: "2026-09-16T13:05:28.687Z" trust_score: 60 critic_score: 65 hype_score: 45 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-09-16T12:36:22.846Z" --- # Russian deepfake campaign targets US midterms with celebrity videos *Kremlin-backed operation uses AI-cloned voices and fake audio on real footage to discredit Democrats.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 60 of 100, higher is better. Central claims attributed to named researchers and a professor, with some specific examples of doctored videos. - Craft 65 of 100, higher is better. Clear separation of fact from comment, with specific examples and attribution for claims. - Hype 45 of 100, lower is better. Headline promises a Russian campaign, which the body details with specific examples and researcher attribution. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - A Russian disinformation campaign is using doctored celebrity videos with AI-cloned voices to target US midterm elections. - The videos feature fake audio overlaid on real footage, often branded with unauthorized news logos, and specifically target Democratic candidates. - Researchers attribute the campaign to a Kremlin-backed operation known as Matryoshka, Operation Overload, or Storm-1679. - Some social media platforms have taken action against accounts posting the content, while others have not yet responded. A Russian disinformation campaign is using doctored celebrity videos to influence the US midterm elections, according to researchers. The campaign employs artificial intelligence to clone the voices of actors, overlaying fake audio onto real footage. These manipulated videos are often branded with unauthorized news logos and are designed to spread false claims targeting specific Democratic candidates. The operation is attributed to a Kremlin-backed group known by researchers as Matryoshka, Operation Overload, or Storm-1679. This group has a history of seeding social media with manipulated videos, sometimes using bot networks, to spread false narratives and erode public trust. The current campaign features actors such as Sarah Jessica Parker, Julia Roberts, Emma Caulfield, Christopher Lloyd, and Ed Begley Jr. The videos push false claims, including that Democrats are conspiring with Big Pharma or promoting sinister agendas. ## Disagreement on platform responses MS NOW reported that X, formerly Twitter, had not immediately returned a request for comment regarding its response to the videos, while Bluesky had suspended seven accounts posting the content. Other reports did not specify which platforms had taken action or not. ## Omissions None of the right-rated digests mention the specific Democrats being targeted by the campaign, nor do they detail the specific false claims made against them. The unrated digests also do not name specific Democratic candidates targeted or the false claims made against them. ## Who covered it Shares of the 10 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 30% (3) - Centre: 40% (4) - Right: 30% (3) 7 of 17 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-09-16T12:36:22.846Z. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 9 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-09-16T15:15:26.442Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - The left-rated reports focused on the specifics of the disinformation campaign, including the use of AI-cloned voices and fake audio. MS NOW provided detailed examples of the manipulated videos, naming actors like Sarah Jessica Parker, Julia Roberts, Emma Caulfield, Christopher Lloyd, and Ed Begley Jr. This report also detailed the specific Democrats being targeted, such as Chris Pappas and Sherrod Brown, and the false claims made against them. It highlighted the branding of the videos with unauthorized CNN logos and the use of hashtags like #AllDemocratsAreCriminals. The report also noted the response from Bluesky, which suspended accounts, and X's lack of immediate comment. ### Centre - The centre-rated reports highlighted the core elements of the Russian disinformation campaign, stating that it involves manipulated videos of celebrities attacking Democrats. BFM TV and Sud Ouest mentioned researchers warning about the dissemination of these videos to discredit the Democratic camp. Radio France Internationale and France24 noted that the videos appeared on social media with hashtags like #AllDemocratsAreCriminals and showed actors chastising the Democratic Party, with some branded with CNN's logo. France24 also mentioned that researchers indicated more such videos were expected. ### Right - The right-rated reports focused on the existence of a Russian disinformation campaign targeting the US midterms using deepfake videos of celebrities attacking Democrats. Free Malaysia Today News and Barron's both stated that researchers said more such videos were expected. Barron's also mentioned that the videos spread on social media with hashtags such as "#AllDemocratsAreCriminals" and showed Hollywood actors chastising the Democratic Party in self-recorded statements branded with CNN's logo. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - mixed: 2 - high: 8 - unknown: 7 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [La Voce di New York](https://lavocedinewyork.com/en/news/2026/09/16/new-russian-disinformation-campaign-targets-u-s-midterms) — New Russian Disinformation Campaign Targets U.S. Midterms - [15min.lt](https://15min.lt/naujiena/aktualu/pasaulis/jav-kadencijos-vidurio-rinkimai-tapo-rusijos-dezinformacijos-kampanijos-taikiniu-57-2765118) — US Midterm Elections Targeted by Russian Disinformation Campaign - [jurnalul.ro](https://jurnalul.ro/stiri/externe/razboi-invizibil-rusia-alegeri-sua-deepfake-vedete-stiri-contrafacute-atacuri-contra-democratilor-1044282.html) — Russia's Invisible War for U.S. Elections. Deepfakes with Stars, Counterfeit News, Attacks on Democrats - [BFM TV](https://bfmtv.com/international/amerique-nord/etats-unis/mid-terms-aux-etats-unis-un-groupe-russe-derriere-de-la-desinformation-anti-democrates-utilisant-des-celebrites_AD-202609150290.html) — Midterms in the United States: a Russian Group Behind Anti-Democratic Misinformation Using Celebrities - [Sud Ouest](https://sudouest.fr/international/russie/elections-aux-etats-unis-un-groupe-russe-mene-une-campagne-de-desinformation-contre-les-democrates-mettant-en-scene-des-celebrites-30635265.php) — Elections in the United States: Russian Group Leads Disinformation Campaign Against Famous Democrats - [Aktual24](https://aktual24.ro/o-noua-campanie-de-dezinformare-atribuita-rusiei-deepfake-uri-in-care-actori-celebri-de-la-hollywood-ataca-partidul-democrat) — A New Disinformation Campaign Attributed to Russia: Deepfakes in Which Famous Hollywood Actors Attack the Democratic Party - [Le Parisien](https://leparisien.fr/international/etats-unis/le-groupe-russe-derriere-les-campagnes-de-desinformation-en-france-cible-desormais-les-democrates-avant-les-midterms-aux-etats-unis-15-09-2026-LMX5RO4TFVCSLN3N3GBFFMI2WY.php) — The Russian Group Behind the Disinformation Campaigns in France Now Targets the Democrats, Before the Midterms in the United States - [Adevarul](https://adevarul.ro/stiri-externe/sua/o-campanie-rusa-de-dezinformare-vizeaza-alegerile-2557614.html) — A Russian Campaign of Disinformation Is Aimed at the Mid-American Elections. Deepfake Hollywood Stars, Used by Russia Against the Democrats - [Radio France Internationale](https://rfi.fr/en/international-news/20260915-russian-disinformation-campaign-sets-sights-on-us-midterms) — Russian disinformation campaign sets sights on US midterms - [Free Malaysia Today News](https://freemalaysiatoday.com/category/highlight/2026/09/15/russian-disinformation-campaign-sets-sights-on-us-midterms) — Russian disinformation campaign sets sights on US midterms - [France24](https://france24.com/en/live-news/20260914-russian-disinformation-campaign-sets-sights-on-us-midterms) — Russian disinformation campaign sets sights on US midterms - [Le Monde](https://lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2026/09/15/russian-disinformation-campaign-sets-sights-on-us-midterms_6757543_4.html) — Russian disinformation campaign sets lights on US midterms - [Barron's](https://barrons.com/news/russian-disinformation-campaign-sets-sights-on-us-midterms-12d97394) — Russian Disinformation Campaign Sets Sights On US Midterms - [rtl.lu](https://today.rtl.lu/news/world/russian-disinformation-campaign-sets-sights-on-us-midterms-1658418913) — Russian disinformation campaign sets sights on US midterms - [theins.press](https://theins.press/en/news/297122) — Russia's Matryoshka bots impersonate celebrities in new campaign targeting U.S. midterms with calls not to vote for “pedophile Democrats” - [MS NOW](https://ms.now/news/russia-election-influencing-campaign-targeting-democrats) — A Russian disinformation campaign is doctoring celebrity videos to meddle in the midterms - [Mother Jones](https://motherjones.com/politics/2026/09/how-russia-won-donald-trump-vladimir-putin-midterm-elections) — Will Putin's decade-long war on US elections hit the midterms? ## Questions **What is the Russian disinformation campaign targeting the US midterms?** A Russian disinformation campaign is using doctored celebrity videos with AI-cloned voices and fake audio to discredit Democratic candidates in the US midterm elections. These manipulated videos are often branded with unauthorized news logos and are attributed to a Kremlin-backed operation. **Who is behind this disinformation campaign?** Researchers attribute the campaign to a Kremlin-backed operation known interchangeably as Matryoshka, Operation Overload, or Storm-1679. This group is known for using manipulated videos and bot networks to spread false narratives. **Which social media platforms have responded to the content?** Bluesky has suspended seven accounts that posted the content. X, formerly Twitter, had not immediately returned a request for comment regarding its response to the videos at the time of reporting. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/politics/russian-deepfake-campaign-targets-us-midterms-with-celebrity-videos. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "Russian deepfake campaign targets US midterms with celebrity videos", https://mediabias.news/politics/russian-deepfake-campaign-targets-us-midterms-with-celebrity-videos