French Intelligence Suspects Russia of Amplifying Bedbug Panic Through Fake News Articles

French intelligence agencies contend Russia amplified national bedbug hysteria by spreading disinformation and fake articles, falsely attributing rise in infestations to economic sanctions on Russia and influx of Ukrainian refugees.

• French intelligence is seriously suspecting Russia of amplifying the national panic over increasing bedbug infestations in France, with some articles falsely blaming the surge on economic sanctions on Russia and the influx of Ukrainian refugees.
• French intelligence agents cited by RMC radio allege that Russia has been spreading fake news articles through social media platforms, appearing to be genuine articles from trusted French newspapers but are forged. Two such 'doppelgänger' articles have been identified by Agence France Presse's fact-checking body, AFP Factuel.
• Allegedly, one 'doppelgänger' article published by La Montagne - a regional newspaper, falsely claimed that the effective insecticides used to kill the pests have been impacted due to an embargo on Russian chemicals. La Montagne clarified that they hadn't published any such articles, condemning it as a 'forgery'.
• Another fake news article attributed to the national newspaper Libération blamed the surge in bedbugs on the arrival of Ukrainian refugees. The article, shared via a Telegram account linked to Kremlin-aligned news outlet Russia Today, was also denied by Libération as their creation.
• Fake 'doppelgänger' articles, particularly those with anti-Ukrainian sentiment, have been condemned by the French Foreign Minister, Catherine Colonna. The practice has targeted up to 355 different outlets and even the foreign ministry's own website. Such suspect activity is seen as a part of Russia's 'hybrid war' on the West, though French intelligence does not see Russia as having initiated the panic.

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