The French government warned on Tuesday, February 13, that disinformation attacks from countries like Russia were "likely to intensify" before European elections in June.
"I call for the utmost vigilance," French Foreign Minister Stéphane Séjourné said in a rare direct address to the public, adding that such information attacks could increase in Europe over the next few weeks. "In five months' time, our continent will vote in the European elections, and each of our countries will be a target for foreign powers", Séjourné said in a video posted on X. "Let us not be deceived," he added.
Séjourné said a French government agency had discovered a network of Russian websites designed to spread Kremlin propaganda in the West. The aim of the sites, "most of which are dormant, is to spread fake news and views that serve Russia's interests," Séjourné said. "They spread false information about Ukraine, divide public opinion and stir up hatred."
On Monday, Viginum, a French government agency charged with defense against foreign online threats, said the "structured and coordinated" network was targeting Europe and the United States. Code-named "Portal Kombat," the network comprises 193 websites, Viginum reported after investigating between September and December of last year.
Political analysts say Moscow might seek to exploit political tensions in Europe where far-right parties are on the rise ahead of the elections on June 6-9. The Rassemblement National (RN, far-right) is already the largest opposition party in France's lower house of parliament and leads President Emmanuel Macron's alliance by nearly 10 percent in European election polls.