A hidden Russian network used social media to foment unrest in France, according to a European Union report. Reuters.
A secret Russian network tried to capitalize on last month's unrest in France by spreading messages on social media blaming the unrest on uncontrolled immigration and portraying the government as out of control, according to an internal European Union assessment seen by Reuters.
Another internal assessment, prepared by the French Foreign Ministry and also seen by Reuters, noted that social media accounts linked to Israel and the American MAGA movement were also spreading "hostile narratives" about the unrest, linking them to radical Islam and immigration.
Together, these assessments provide insight into how outside actors sought to exploit internal unrest in France for their own political purposes, according to European disinformation experts.
An EU analysis found that a secret Russian network known as Operation Overload distributed videos simulating Western media content aimed at a French audience. Some of them falsely claimed that immigrants were raping protesters or that attacks were planned in the near future.
The EU analysis, which covered the period from October 7 to 21, found that Russia sought to "portray the French leadership as increasingly weak and authoritarian."
"Events like this provide an opportunity to undermine the authority of national governments, incite fear and division and shape public opinion in the run-up to elections," the EU document said.
The investigation found no evidence that Moscow or other actors incited or exacerbated the protests. This activity was characterized as "opportunistic exploitation of unrest".