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French Security Services Attribute Deepfake Disinformation Campaign Targeting Raphaël Glucksmann to GRU‑Linked Group

The public attribution highlights use of fabricated news sites and AI‑manipulated audio and video that could be mobilized to influence the 2027 presidential campaign.

Overview

  • French national security officials told Raphaël Glucksmann this week that he was the target of a disinformation operation traced to Storm‑1516, a group linked to Russia’s GRU.
  • Viginum formally identified the campaign and said operators built a fake outlet styled on the site Blast to publish forged documents and a fully fabricated video.
  • The operation impersonated journalists including Edwy Plenel and used artificial intelligence to recreate voices and produce false audio and video that named Léa Salamé.
  • The same pro‑Russian network was previously tied to late‑July posts spreading false claims about Édouard Philippe’s health, showing a pattern of targeting presidential hopefuls.
  • Officials and Glucksmann warn this is likely the opening of sustained interference using synthetic media and faux ‘anti‑system’ outlets that could erode trust in the 2027 election.