Russian, Chinese and Cuban influence groups were behind efforts over the past month to spread disinformation online around the impact and recovery from both Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton, according to a U.S. official.
The findings highlight an ongoing increase in influence efforts by foreign nations that has included campaigns to sway the election. They also illustrate the ease with which those nations can interfere in U.S. affairs.
According to a statement from a U.S. official, granted anonymity to discuss the intelligence findings, Russian influence groups used artificial intelligence to generate images showing false destruction caused by the hurricanes in Florida, including an image of Disney World being flooded. The material was distributed on social media by pro-Kremlin accounts.
Much of the disinformation linked to foreign actors has been around government relief efforts — including Russian influence actors posting online that the government was denying flood assistance and other help to hurricane victims.