Overview
- French security services said in early August that they had identified and attributed several online disinformation operations to pro‑Russian networks Storm‑1516 and Matriochka that targeted probable 2027 presidential figures including Raphaël Glucksmann, Édouard Philippe and Gabriel Attal.
- Investigators say the campaign used typosquatted fake news sites, usurped journalists’ identities and AI‑generated audio and video; a fabricated site copying the outlet Blast was published on July 30 and carried a deepfake implicating Léa Salamé and Edwy Plenel.
- Technical checks by media analysts and Viginum indicate a high likelihood the audio and images were AI‑generated, but the items so far had low visibility inside France (under roughly 30,000 French views) while reaching wider international audiences (reported near one million cumulative views).
- The government presented a bill in late July to raise fines and jail terms for creating or spreading false digital content during elections and has sped up the procedure while the prime minister seeks coordinated action with political parties and platform firms.
- Viginum has linked dozens of prior operations to Storm‑1516 and related ecosystems since 2023, officials warn these incidents are precursors to more intense interference before the 2027 vote and say sustained monitoring, platform cooperation and legal measures will be needed to protect candidates and public debate.