France's disinformation watchdog Viginum identified an Israeli firm called BlackCore as running covert influence operations targeting elections in France, Scotland, New York, Angola, and Togo. In France, BlackCore targeted three mayoral candidates from the left-wing France Unbowed party ahead of the March 2026 municipal elections. The operation used fake social media accounts, deceptive websites, and AI-generated content. One candidate was accused of rape on a fake blog. Another was targeted with phony AI-generated nude photos. Viginum said the same firm also targeted Scotland's First Minister John Swinney, who had described the situation in Gaza as a man-made humanitarian catastrophe. Meta removed a network of accounts originating in Israel that targeted audiences in France, the United Kingdom, Australia, Iran, Togo, Gabon, Angola, and the United States. The Citizen Lab at the University of Toronto documented BlackCore's 14-week training program for Angolan government employees, teaching them to run covert influence operations using fake personas and AI-generated content. France's Prime Minister said France has asked Israel for explanations. The Israeli embassy in Paris said Israel has no intention to interfere in the French political process. BlackCore did not respond to requests for comment, and its website went offline after journalists began asking questions.

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[โ€“] 17 points 1 day ago

Israel MEDDLED in our ELECTIONS? Quick! Give them BILLIONS and BILLIONS of Dollars and ACCESS to our Military!

-Also these Countries!

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  • Israel is a terrorist state.

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  • [โ€“] 6 points 1 day ago

    I am not surprise about shit anymore. I would be surprised of they were not.

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