France’s Ongoing Battle Against Disinformation

France Launches Digital Counteroffensive Against Disinformation

The French Foreign Ministry has established a new social media account dedicated to combating disinformation, marking a significant shift in the country’s approach to information warfare. The account, called “French Response,” was created approximately two months ago on X (formerly Twitter) as part of a strategic initiative to actively counter false narratives targeting France.

“You can’t win the information war if you don’t lead the battle,” explained a spokesperson from the Quai d’Orsay, France’s foreign ministry. The account aims to swiftly respond to conversations where French interests are under attack or where disinformation is being deployed, particularly regarding sensitive topics like the war in Ukraine or content that could affect the democratic system in France.

The initiative comes amid growing concerns about the spread of fake news, including a recent viral video falsely claiming a coup d’état at the Élysée Palace. When questioned about why the ministry hadn’t addressed this specific falsehood on their new account, the spokesperson referenced the “Streisand effect,” suggesting that drawing attention to certain content could potentially amplify its reach rather than diminish it.

France’s counterdisinformation strategy extends beyond merely reacting to false claims. The foreign ministry has developed a multi-faceted approach that begins with robust analysis and monitoring capabilities. This effort involves collaboration with the Ministry for the Armed Forces and VIGINUM, the Prime Minister’s service dedicated to protecting against foreign digital interference. It was VIGINUM that initially reported the false coup video to Pharos (France’s platform for reporting illegal content) and Meta.

The second component involves creating responsive content designed to have maximum impact. “This can be done through a kind of fact-checking, by saying ‘this is our truth,’ for example. It can sometimes be done through humor,” the spokesperson noted. The ministry can also coordinate messaging across its extensive diplomatic network, which includes 180 embassies controlling nearly 700 institutional social media accounts with a combined following of approximately 10 million users across various platforms.

Despite these efforts, challenges remain. The French Response account currently has only about 12,000 followers, raising questions about its reach and effectiveness. However, ministry officials maintain that follower count is not their primary metric of success. “What’s important is to post the response and create engagement in conversations where we’re being attacked—which is why it’s called Response,” the spokesperson clarified.

The French government is also putting pressure on social media platforms to take greater responsibility for content moderation. President Emmanuel Macron recently appealed to platforms to enforce the Digital Services Act (DSA), a piece of European Union legislation that regulates digital services. French officials have expressed concern that when they report harmful content to platforms, their requests are often ignored, potentially endangering public discourse.

This initiative reflects a growing recognition among democratic nations that state actors must actively engage in the digital information space. France’s approach in French-speaking Africa is particularly noteworthy, as disinformation has played a significant role in political instability in countries like Mali and Burkina Faso, where France has historical ties and ongoing interests.

The French Response account represents just one component of a broader national strategy to protect France’s international reputation and democratic institutions from coordinated disinformation campaigns. As digital threats evolve, France’s approach balances reactive measures with proactive engagement, demonstrating the complexities of maintaining information integrity in the digital age.