Foreign interference, USA News (France): A massive and clandestine interference operation has been revealed by the newspaper Le Monde, targeting millions of internet users in France and across Europe with content in English featuring Islamophobic and conspiratorial themes on platforms such as YouTube, TikTok, and Facebook.
Examples highlighted in the reporting include videos showing migrants crossing the Mediterranean or the English Channel accompanied by slogans such as “Stop Qatar before it destroys Europe,” as well as footage of riots in Paris from 2024 falsely attributed to the emirate.
Published figures indicate that the campaign amassed 830 million views over three years, including 120 million in France, backed by a budget estimated at 10 million euros.
The Israeli Connection Explored
The primary objective of these deceptive campaigns appears to be political, aimed at influencing public opinion ahead of major elections. Regarding the origin of the false information, an international study tracked technical and financial traces leading back to private cyber-influence companies based in Israel, though the direct responsibility of the hosting state has not been formally established.
