EU exposes Russian network behind fake reports on French protests — Reuters
Photo: Protests in France (Getty Images)
A Russian covert network spread disinformation about migrants and the threat of terrorist attacks, attempting to exploit the unrest in France to discredit the government and deepen social divisions, Reuters reports.
According to an internal EU assessment reviewed by Reuters, the network attempted to use the unrest in France to stoke fear of migrants and convince the public that the authorities had lost control of the situation.
A separate study by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs found that accounts linked to Israel and the American MAGA movement were also involved in spreading negative reports about the unrest. These posts linked the protests to radical Islamism and migration.
According to European experts on countering disinformation, these cases demonstrate how external forces attempt to exploit internal conflicts in other countries to advance their own political interests.
The EU report notes that a Russian network known as Operation Overload disseminated videos that were passed off as Western media reports. These videos, in particular, falsely claimed that migrants had raped protesters or that terrorist attacks could occur in France in the near future.
The EU's analysis covers the period from October 7 to 21. The document states that Russia attempted to portray the French leadership as weak and increasingly resorting to authoritarian methods.
"Such events offer opportunities to undermine national governments, fuel fear and division, and shape public perceptions ahead of elections," the document states.
At the same time, the report's authors found no evidence that Moscow or other external forces provoked the protests or contributed to their escalation. They characterized the actions of the Russian network as "the opportunistic exploitation of unrest."
Protests in France
Mass protests in France began in September amid discontent over the rising cost of living, problems in education, and the deterioration of public services.
In October, the protests intensified. Demonstrations spread to various cities across the country, and peaceful rallies escalated into clashes with police, arson, and looting. During the unrest on October 17, law enforcement detained over 1,800 people, and over 500 police officers, gendarmes, and first responders were injured.
The protests continued in the following weeks. On October 24, demonstrators took to the streets again to voice their demands to the authorities, and on November 5, according to estimates by the French Ministry of the Interior, approximately 575,000 people participated in nationwide protests and strikes.
