France reveals Israeli company's involvement in manipulation and digital interference in elections

French authorities have formally accused an Israeli digital technology company called 'Black Core' of involvement in cyber interference operations targeting municipal elections in France. Reports indicated that these activities were not limited to France but extended to similar operations in other countries, including Angola, Togo, and Scotland, reaching as far as the New York City elections in the United States.

This announcement was made during a press conference held by Marc-Antoine Brillant, head of the National Agency for Monitoring and Combating Foreign Digital Interference, with the participation of French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu. Brillant affirmed that investigations proved a direct link between systematic disinformation campaigns and the company based in Israel, noting that the goal was to destabilize democratic processes in several regions.

According to the official statement, the suspicious digital activities specifically targeted political forces and figures who adopt positions supportive of the rights of the Palestinian people. Investigators detected attempts to tarnish the reputation of candidates opposing Israeli policies in the occupied territories, indicating clear political dimensions behind these cyberattacks.

In New York City, sources revealed that the interference targeted the electoral process won by Zohran Mamdani, who is set to become the city's first Muslim mayor in 2025. Mamdani is known for his sharp and continuous criticism of Israeli practices in the Gaza Strip, which made him a potential target for the smear campaigns led by the Israeli company.

In the French arena, the interference campaign focused on the left-wing 'La France Insoumise' party, which is one of the most prominent defenders of the Palestinian cause in Europe. The investigation clarified that three candidates from the party were subjected to widespread digital defamation operations before the municipal elections held last March, with the aim of weakening their electoral chances.

French officials described what happened as a 'highly organized operation' that used a wide range of sophisticated technical tools. These tools included the creation of fake websites and thousands of fake accounts on social media platforms, with the ability to manage simultaneous campaigns in multiple languages to influence public opinion and distort facts.

For his part, French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu affirmed that his government had requested official and direct clarifications from the Israeli side regarding the activities of 'Black Core'. Lecornu stressed the necessity of cooperation to identify the sponsors of these campaigns, noting that France would not tolerate any external interference originating from the territories of friendly countries.

In a related context, Lecornu indicated that these incidents necessitate updating electoral laws to strengthen digital guarantees and protect the democratic process. He added that information manipulation represents an existential threat requiring urgent legal measures, especially with the approaching French presidential elections scheduled for 2027.

On the other hand, the Israeli Embassy in Paris issued a statement confirming receipt of the French request, noting that it awaits full details of the investigation. The embassy claimed that Israel does not interfere in the internal political processes of other countries and that it would conduct its own examination upon receiving the necessary documents from the French authorities.

In Scotland, technical sources detected accounts linked to the Israeli company directly targeting First Minister John Swinney. Swinney had described the situation in the Gaza Strip as a 'man-made humanitarian catastrophe,' hinting at the occurrence of genocide, which appears to have prompted a hostile digital response from the aforementioned company.

'Black Core' had previously described itself, before deleting its digital presence, as an 'elite company' specializing in modern information warfare and digital influence. The company had earlier claimed to provide governments and political campaigns with advanced strategies to shape narratives and control cyberspace, which raises suspicions about the nature of its clients.

Earlier in May, the French Minister of Interior had noted the detection of unprecedented methods of information manipulation during election periods. Judicial authorities were informed of these violations, and security agencies began tracking the digital footprint that ultimately led to the revelation of the Israeli company's role.

This issue raises profound questions about the role of private technology companies in implementing cross-border political agendas for unknown entities. Observers believe that targeting pro-Palestinian figures reflects a desire to suppress voices critical of Israel on the international stage using the weapon of digital 'moral assassination'.

Finally, political circles in Paris and New York are awaiting the outcome of the ongoing judicial investigations, amidst calls for imposing international sanctions on companies involved in undermining democracy. The issue remains open to the possibility of diplomatic escalation between France and Israel if official entities are proven to have supported these activities.

We faced an organized operation that included a wide range of digital assets and fake websites to carry out suspicious foreign interventions.