France opens investigation into alleged foreign interference linked to Israeli firm
French authorities have launched an investigation into suspected foreign interference linked to an Israeli company following an online disinformation campaign targeting several candidates from the left-wing party La France Insoumise (LFI) during the municipal elections held in March.
The investigation was opened by the Paris prosecutor’s office and focuses on alleged operations targeting three LFI candidates: Sébastien Delogu in Marseille, François Piquemal in Toulouse, and David Guiraud in Roubaix.
According to judicial authorities, the inquiry examines possible offenses including collaboration with a foreign power, manipulation of voters through false information or fraudulent practices, and online promotion of extremist content linked to certain visual materials used during the campaign.
The candidates claim they were victims of coordinated smear campaigns involving fake accusations, manipulated campaign posters, false social media pages, and misleading digital content designed to damage their reputations.
Sébastien Delogu stated that false posters carrying his name and QR codes redirected people to fabricated allegations circulated publicly during the election period. François Piquemal also reported fake social media accounts, leaked passwords, and counterfeit campaign visuals appearing online, including on commercial platforms.
French media reports and sources familiar with the case suggested that the operation may have originated from Israel, mentioning the possible involvement of companies based in Tel Aviv. However, prosecutors emphasized that, at this stage, there is no evidence directly implicating the Israeli state itself.
The French agency Viginum, responsible for monitoring foreign digital interference, reportedly identified what it described as an artificial or automated system used to spread misleading and inaccurate content online. According to the agency, such actions could threaten democratic processes by manipulating public information.
The targeted politicians believe they may have been singled out because of their public support for the Palestinian cause and criticism of Israeli government policies.
The investigation has been assigned to France’s National Cyber Unit, which specializes in digital crimes and cyber-related threats. Authorities are continuing to examine the origin and scope of the alleged disinformation network.
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