French presidential candidate files lawsuit over alleged Russian interference
Former French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, who is also a candidate in the 2027 presidential election, has filed a legal complaint after becoming the target of deepfakes, accusing "foreign interference originating from Russian networks."
French presidential candidate Attal has filed a lawsuit in Paris, alleging Russian interference in the upcoming presidential elections. The lawsuit, filed on Friday, August 7, condemns acts of foreign interference, information manipulation, and the fabrication of falsified content that could undermine the integrity of the elections.
According to Attal's lawyers, they have uncovered deepfakes, fake video reports, and fake newspaper front pages on social media and other platforms, aimed at sowing confusion about the origin of the disinformation. The General Secretariat for National Defence and Security (SGDSN) and its Viginum unit, which monitors and protects against foreign digital interference, identified the material and warned Attal about the publications.
If left unchecked, the election could be rigged, Attal warned, accusing Russia of wanting to steal the election from the French people. This is not the first time Russia has been accused of interfering in French politics; other candidates have also faced similar allegations.
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