The French justice system is currently investigating a case that concerns Parisian politics with an unusual intensity: the suspicion of coordinated digital operations to influence against candidates from the left-wing party La France insoumise (LFI) during the recent municipal campaigns. At the center of attention are accusations that organized disinformation campaigns were specifically targeted against several prominent politicians of Jean-Luc Mélenchon’s movement. Particularly delicate is the question of whether actors with connections to Israel could be behind these actions.
According to what is known so far, among those affected are, among others, the LFI deputies Sébastien Delogu, François Piquemal, and David Guiraud. During the election campaign, they were the target of extensive defamatory campaigns on social networks and on websites created specifically for that purpose. There, accusations circulated regarding alleged extremism, corruption, or sexual assaults. French media also report false profiles of “whistleblowers” and content supposedly generated by artificial intelligence, specifically designed to undermine the credibility of the politicians.
The focus of the investigation is on a communication structure called “BlackCore.” Several French and international media outlets have recently linked the organization to digital influence operations. There are indications that some of the activities may have been organized from Israel. However, there is no official confirmation on this matter so far. The French prosecutor’s office cautiously speaks of possible manipulation operations “in the interest of a third country.”
The investigation is being carried out by the national cybercrime unit. It is especially examining whether there have been systematic interventions in democratic electoral processes. The case occurs at a time of growing concern about hybrid influence strategies coming from abroad. France had mainly focused in recent years on Russian disinformation campaigns. Now, digital influence operations are evident that are no longer only associated with Moscow.
Politically, the scandal is increasingly becoming an internal conflict. Jean-Luc Mélenchon accuses the government of deliberately downplaying the issue. He speaks of a possible “state scandal” and claims that parts of an official report were toned down or withheld to avoid diplomatic tensions. French opposition politicians are now demanding full transparency about the extent of the alleged manipulation attempts.
The matter also touches on a geopolitically very sensitive area in the French debate. La France insoumise has been considered since the start of the Gaza war as one of the French political forces most critical of Israel. For this reason, the case is now interpreted far beyond the issue of simple online campaigns. However, there is no concrete publicly available evidence proving direct state direction from Israel. Consequently, the French security authorities have also expressed caution for now.
Regardless of the outcome of the investigations, the scandal reveals above all the vulnerability of modern democracies in the digital age. Local elections had long been considered political arenas with limited international relevance. But social networks, artificial intelligence, and transnational communication structures are fundamentally changing this reality. Election campaigns are no longer fought only in public squares or televised debates, but increasingly in anonymous digital networks whose authors are often difficult to identify.
For France, the case could have far-reaching consequences. If the suspicion of organized foreign influence is confirmed, it is very likely that the debate on digital sovereignty, electoral campaign security, and the protection of democratic institutions will intensify significantly.
Author: P. Tiko