Paris (QNN)- French authorities are investigating whether an Israeli interference campaign targeted municipal elections in France and whether an obscure Israeli-linked firm called BlackCore played a role, according to sources familiar with the case cited by Reuters.
The probe focuses on at least three mayoral candidates from the left party La France Insoumise (LFI), ahead of the March municipal elections. Investigators are also trying to identify who may have commissioned the campaign.
The campaign reportedly used fake websites, social media accounts, and online ads to spread claims of criminal behavior against candidates. It targeted Marseille, Toulouse, and Roubaix, according to French authorities and the candidates themselves.
BlackCore described itself online as an “information warfare” company that provides governments and political campaigns with tools to shape narratives. Its website and LinkedIn page have since gone offline.
French intelligence services are now examining whether BlackCore carried out the operation or acted as part of a wider network. Two sources said the company’s activities included a broader disinformation effort that also extended beyond France.
Meta Platforms, the owner of Facebook, said it removed a network of accounts linked to the campaign for “coordinated inauthentic behavior.” The company said the operation originated in Israel and primarily targeted France, but it did not name BlackCore.
Google and TikTok also flagged parts of the activity while monitoring their platforms. TikTok removed accounts that promoted one of the fake websites used in the smear campaign.
The operation targeted several candidates, including Marseille candidate Sébastien Delogu, Toulouse candidate François Piquemal, and Roubaix candidate David Guiraud.
The candidates were smeared through fake blogs, QR code campaigns in public spaces, and coordinated social media posts. One fake site reportedly accused Delogu of unspecified misconduct. He later filed a defamation lawsuit.
French disinformation monitoring service Viginum first exposed the operation in March, describing it as a “foreign digital interference” campaign targeting a French political party and its candidates.
The case has raised concerns in France about the growing use of digital influence operations in domestic politics.
La France Insoumise (LFI) remains a divisive force in French politics. The party holds a stable support base of around 10–15 percent, which could prove decisive in the 2027 presidential election.
LFI said it is cooperating with investigators and warned that Israeli interference will likely intensify in future elections due to technological advances.
“We expect the upcoming election to be the scene of attacks of this kind,” the party said.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry claimed that it was not aware of BlackCore and did not comment on the interference reports.
