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A French government agency has reported that Scotland’s First Minister, John Swinney, was the target of an online disinformation campaign before the recent Holyrood election. The campaign was allegedly linked to BlackCore, an Israeli technology company accused of spreading false information and attempting to discredit pro-Palestine candidates. These activities were part of a broader effort involving disinformation campaigns connected to the political environment in Scotland.
According to Viginum, the disinformation detection service, hundreds of fake social media accounts systematically posted coordinated comments on Swinney’s posts. These inauthentic interactions aimed to influence public opinion by amplifying manipulated narratives around Swinney, the Scottish National Party (SNP), and the Scottish government. The extensive report from Viginum detailed that at least 256 accounts generated roughly 1,400 coordinated comments primarily directed at these political figures and entities.
John Swinney expressed serious concern following the publication of the Viginum report, calling the findings “deeply concerning.” He emphasized the importance of taking foreign digital interference seriously and demanded urgent action to safeguard democratic processes from such threats. Swinney insisted that the UK Government, responsible for national security, must prioritize tackling foreign interference online, stating that this is essential for the integrity of elections and democracy.
Further investigations revealed connections between BlackCore and a similar campaign targeting three mayoral candidates from the France Unbowed party (LFI) during local elections. The French Prime Minister, Sebastien Lecornu, confirmed that France had formally requested an explanation from Israel regarding BlackCore’s involvement and sought assistance in identifying those responsible for the online smear operations. Israel’s embassy in Paris responded by stating it was awaiting the outcome of the French investigation and firmly denied any intention to interfere in France’s political affairs. Meanwhile, BlackCore, which described itself as a high-level influence and cybersecurity entity, removed its online presence following inquiry by news agency Reuters
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