The Russian disinformation network Operation Overload used riots in France in October to spread fake news, stoke public discord and undermine confidence in French authorities.
This was reported by Reuters with reference to a closed report of the European Union.
The Russian network, which has been active since September 2023, has circulated fake Western media videos claiming that migrants are raping protesters and that France is threatened with further terrorist attacks.
Artificial intelligence technologies are used to create fake news, including cloning expert voices, falsifying newspaper headlines and manipulating images.
According to European experts, the purpose of the operation was to present the French leadership as weak and at the same time authoritative, strengthen the division in society and undermine support for Ukraine.