France Télévisions Partners with VIGINUM to Combat Foreign Disinformation

France Télévisions Partners with VIGINUM to Combat Foreign Disinformation

In a significant move to counter the rising tide of sophisticated disinformation campaigns, France Télévisions has formed an unprecedented partnership with VIGINUM, France’s specialized service for detecting foreign digital interference. The collaboration, formalized on October 15, 2025, aims to strengthen public awareness about information manipulation and protect the integrity of public debate in France.

VIGINUM, often described as “France’s shield against foreign digital interference,” operates as a technical service under the Secretariat-General for Defence and National Security (SGDSN). Since its establishment in July 2021, the organization has focused on detecting, analyzing, and characterizing information manipulation attempts orchestrated by foreign actors, both state and non-state.

“At a time when foreign powers are extending their influence over our information space, France Télévisions remains fully committed to ensuring universal access to reliable, independent information,” said Delphine Ernotte Cunci, Chairwoman and CEO of France Télévisions.

The threat landscape that VIGINUM monitors includes a diverse range of sophisticated tactics: fake websites and social media accounts, automated dissemination of biased content, and increasingly convincing deepfakes. These operations are specifically designed to destabilize public discourse and undermine national unity.

To combat these threats, VIGINUM employs a multidisciplinary approach, bringing together experts in open-source intelligence (OSINT), digital marketing, data science, political science, and geopolitics. This combination of expertise has already enabled the organization to expose several foreign interference operations, including “Matriochka,” a pro-Russian disinformation campaign, and “Storm-1516,” another Russian operation active since late 2023 that has significantly impacted European and French public debate.

Marc-Antoine Brillant, Head of VIGINUM, emphasized the importance of collaboration: “In a context marked by the proliferation of information threats, it is essential to build a strong, shared line of defense alongside the media and civil society actors. Partnering with France Télévisions therefore appeared an obvious choice to reach diverse audiences across the entire country.”

The partnership represents a dual approach to defense, integrating technical and editorial expertise. VIGINUM will provide specialized training to France Télévisions employees, with particular focus on journalists, sharing knowledge about interference tactics and open-source investigative techniques. In return, journalists from France Télévisions will share their expertise and best practices in combating information manipulation.

As France’s leading news organization, France Télévisions plays a crucial role in preventing attacks designed to mislead audiences and erode public trust. The partnership with VIGINUM will allow the media group to leverage its broadcast platforms and Media and Information Literacy initiatives to act as both a spokesperson and driving force against foreign information threats.

A key aspect of the collaboration focuses on strengthening younger audiences’ resilience to disinformation. Through initiatives like the “Tour de France de l’EMI” (Media and Information Literacy Tour of France), launched in partnership with the Ministry of Education, France Télévisions teams engage directly with teachers. Additionally, the group’s educational platform “Lumni” will soon feature new modules for both teachers and students, including educational audiovisual resources specifically addressing information threats.

This alliance between a major public broadcaster and a national security service highlights the evolving nature of information warfare and the need for coordinated responses across sectors. By combining technical expertise with journalistic rigor and broad public outreach, the partnership aims to strengthen France’s democratic resilience and protect public discourse from malicious foreign interference.

“With VIGINUM’s expertise, our Group is strengthening its commitment to combating manipulation attempts,” noted Ernotte Cunci. “This partnership reaffirms the essential role of public service media in protecting informational and cultural sovereignty—a key national security issue.”

As disinformation campaigns continue to grow in sophistication and reach, this collaboration represents a significant step in France’s approach to protecting its information ecosystem and demonstrates the increasing recognition that safeguarding reliable information requires cooperation between public institutions, media organizations, and civil society.