“Le Monde” reports nine French people who “would have accepted the deal” proposed by people in the Kremlin. The resigning Minister of Foreign Affairs reacted this Wednesday, December 18 to “this foreign digital interference”.
Russia is trying to manipulate influencers in European countries, including France, denounced this Wednesday, December 18, the resigning French Minister of Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot, calling “content creators and their subscribers must be extremely vigilant regarding these threats which weigh on our public debate.” “France is targeted by several types of foreign digital interference,” declared Jean-Noël Barrot during a hearing before the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National Assembly.
“The operating methods deployed are varied and they evolve frequently. Recent elections in Moldova, Romania, have for example illustrated the massive use of influencers on social networks and in particular on Twitter, to disrupt the vote, he added. And we have elements which confirm that Russia is also trying to manipulate influencers in other European countries, including France.”
“Ongoing investigations”
Information from Monde reported Wednesday that thousands of influencers, including French, were approached by people close to the Kremlin to spread pro-Russian propaganda. According to the daily, which cites “a source within the French intelligence services”, more than 2,000 European content producers were contacted. “Around twenty of them, including nine French people, would have accepted the deal,” écrit the World. “Investigations are underway and we call on content creators, like their subscribers, to be extremely vigilant regarding these threats which weigh on our public debate,” also declared Jean-Noël Barrot.
“And in this area you have to be resolute, keep your cool. We must understand the threat. “Build a united front and choose the right tools to respond,” he also reacted, specifying that France has strengthened its tools “to detect and characterize digital interference”.
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