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France is currently under attack from a wave of Russian disinformation campaigns that are threatening to disrupt the upcoming EU parliamentary elections, according to France’s minister for Europe, Jean-Noël Barrot.
In an interview with Ouest-France, Barrot expressed concern over the weekly dissemination of Russian propaganda across various social media platforms.
Barrot stated, “We are being pounded by the propaganda of Vladimir Putin’s Russia and its communication corridors. Not a week goes by without France being the target of coordinated and deliberate manoeuvres to disrupt public debate and interfere in the campaign for the European elections.”
One example cited by Barrot was the launch of a fake French ministry of defence website that falsely claimed 200,000 French citizens were being called up to fight in Ukraine. The French defence ministry confirmed the site was fake and part of a disinformation campaign.
These “doppleganger” sites, which mimic legitimate sources like government websites, are just one form of Russian disinformation being utilized to spread false narratives.
Other instances of fake news mentioned by Barrot included a fake ministry of interior site spreading misinformation about entry conditions for Ukrainians in France, as well as false reports about a rise in tuberculosis cases in the country.
Barrot emphasized the significant risk posed by these disinformation campaigns to the EU elections scheduled for 6-9 June.
In response to the threat, Belgium, currently holding the EU presidency, is considering activating a temporary crisis taskforce to monitor and counter Russian disinformation efforts.
Recently, the Belgian federal prosecutor’s office opened an investigation into alleged Russian payments to MEPs, revealing a concerted effort to influence the European parliament in favour of pro-Russian candidates.
The Czech government also uncovered a Russian disinformation operation targeting the EU elections, underscoring the ongoing challenge of combating false information.
The EU has been actively monitoring and warning about the rise in disinformation, particularly in relation to elections and issues such as Ukraine, migration, and LGBTQ rights. The EU’s disinformation unit has identified thousands of cases of false information on social media and fake websites.
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