France’s disinformation unit Viginum announced that the Israeli company BlackCore’s activities are not limited to local elections in France but may also be connected to cyber interference in election processes in various countries and regions.
Viginum President Marc-Antoine Briyan stated that the company might have influenced election processes in New York, Scotland, Angola, and Togo as well. Briyan emphasized that these activities do not appear to be confined to the municipal elections in France.
Allegations of interference in French local elections intensify
According to Viginum’s assessment, BlackCore may have been behind an online smear campaign targeting three mayoral candidates from the far-left, pro-Palestinian party France Insoumise during the local elections held in France in March.
The agency suggests that the company operated not just in a single election race but as part of a broader influence operation network. Viginum later provided a detailed report on BlackCore’s possible activities.
Connections to New York, Scotland, Angola, and Togo
Briyan noted that BlackCore’s operations are not limited to France, with foreign-sourced digital interference also observed in other countries. The 2025 mayoral elections in New York, the election process in Scotland, and political developments in Angola and Togo were mentioned in this context.
It was also alleged that the company tried to influence the New York elections won by progressive young politician Zohran Mamdani. Viginum classified this claim among activities linked to BlackCore.
In Scotland, accounts reportedly connected to the company targeted First Minister John Swinney, who had previously strongly criticized developments in Gaza.
Paris requests explanation from Israel
French authorities have not yet reached a definitive conclusion about who is directly behind these campaigns. Nevertheless, the Paris administration requested explanations and legal cooperation from Israel to clarify the allegations.
The Israeli Embassy in Paris denied claims of intending to interfere in French elections. The embassy asserted that Israel has no aim to intervene in the French political process at either the national or local level.
BlackCore’s self-described profile also under scrutiny
According to information shared by Viginum, before largely erasing its online presence, BlackCore described itself as "an elite influence, cyber, and technology company established for the modern era of information warfare."
The company claimed to offer governments and political campaigns "advanced strategies, new tools, and reliable security to shape narratives." These statements have become a significant basis in France’s ongoing investigation into the company’s methods.
