Israeli, Russian-linked accounts pushed narratives about French riots, foreign ministry report says
The figures far exceeded those recorded for accounts described as belonging to "pro-Russian spheres," according to the report.
A French foreign ministry report has uncovered that Israeli and pro-MAGA social media accounts were actively promoting hostile narratives about the recent French riots on platforms like X. These accounts, which included Israeli officials, government entities, and influencers, generated over 35 million views for their posts during the October 16-18 period.
In contrast, accounts associated with Russian interests garnered less than 3 million views for their posts on the same topic. Similarly, a separate EU assessment revealed that a covert Russian network, known as "Operation Overload," aimed to exploit the French riots by disseminating videos impersonating Western media outlets. These videos falsely accused migrants of violence and suggested imminent terrorist attacks.
The EU report found that this Russian campaign sought to portray the French government as weak and authoritarian, taking advantage of the unrest to shape public perceptions ahead of elections. Both assessments highlight how external actors are attempting to leverage domestic crises for their own political gains.
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