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French authorities have uncovered a sophisticated pro-Russian disinformation operation falsely linking President Emmanuel Macron to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, according to a French government source.
The state service for Vigilance and Protection against Foreign Digital Interference detected the campaign, which bears hallmarks of the notorious Storm-1516 group. U.S. intelligence agencies have previously identified Storm-1516 as a pro-Russian entity suspected of spreading disinformation during the 2024 U.S. presidential election campaign.
The operation centered around fabricated content, including counterfeit screenshots of emails designed to appear as if they came from a recent U.S. Justice Department release of Epstein-related files. One particularly inflammatory fake email falsely portrayed Macron as hosting a party with underage individuals.
The Elysée Palace has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the disinformation campaign or whether President Macron had ever met Epstein, either before or after Epstein’s 2008 conviction for procuring an underage girl for prostitution.
According to the government source, the operation began with the creation of a fraudulent website mimicking the respected French online news outlet France-Soir. On Wednesday, this counterfeit site published an article alleging connections between Macron and Epstein. The false information was subsequently amplified through social media, particularly via a video posted on Elon Musk’s X platform.
“French Response,” an official X account operated by France’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, quickly responded by denouncing the article as entirely false. Following a complaint from the authentic France-Soir, the fake website was taken down. However, Reuters confirmed that the video purporting to be a news report remained accessible on X.
When approached by Reuters about whether French authorities had requested removal of the video, X representatives did not respond. The French government source indicated that the initial video post originated from an account linked to Storm-1516, with numerous other accounts subsequently helping to disseminate the content across social media channels.
The Russian Embassy in Paris could not be immediately reached for comment on these allegations.
This incident adds to a pattern of tensions between France and Russia regarding disinformation. A French official noted that Paris had previously expressed concerns to Moscow about Russian efforts to discredit Macron, including during his first presidential campaign in 2017. Moscow has consistently denied such allegations.
The operation targeting Macron fits within a broader context of suspected Russian interference across Europe. Multiple European governments have accused Russia and pro-Moscow actors of orchestrating extensive disinformation campaigns aimed at destabilizing European governments and undermining the European Union’s cohesion and effectiveness.
These allegations come at a time of heightened tensions between Russia and Western nations, particularly following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and subsequent sanctions imposed by European countries, including France. Under Macron’s leadership, France has been a vocal supporter of Ukraine and critic of Russian actions.
Disinformation experts note that targeting high-profile leaders with false associations to scandals like the Epstein case represents an evolution in information warfare tactics, designed to damage credibility and sow public distrust in democratic institutions.
The French government has increasingly invested in counter-disinformation capabilities in recent years, establishing dedicated units like the service for Vigilance and Protection against Foreign Digital Interference to detect and respond to such threats.
Russia has consistently rejected all allegations of orchestrating disinformation campaigns targeting Western democracies, dismissing such claims as unfounded.
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7 Comments
This is a troubling example of how foreign actors can leverage digital platforms to spread disinformation and sow discord. I hope the authorities are able to uncover the full extent of this pro-Russian operation and take appropriate action to mitigate the damage.
While I’m no fan of Macron’s policies, I’m deeply concerned by these allegations. Linking a world leader to a convicted sex offender without credible evidence is reckless and could have serious consequences. I hope the truth comes to light through a thorough investigation.
I agree, political differences shouldn’t excuse the use of fabricated scandals. Responsible leaders should condemn such tactics, regardless of party affiliation. The public deserves facts, not malicious propaganda.
This is a concerning case of disinformation targeting a world leader. It’s important to scrutinize claims and verify sources, especially when politically-charged issues are involved. I hope the authorities can shed more light on the origins and intent behind this coordinated campaign.
This disinformation campaign seems designed to discredit and destabilize. I’ll be curious to see if the Elysée Palace can conclusively refute the false claims and provide a transparent accounting of Macron’s actual connections, if any, to Epstein.
Fabricating emails and false connections to discredit political figures is a dangerous tactic. I’ll be interested to see if the Elysée Palace provides any response or clarification on Macron’s potential ties to Epstein. Transparency is key in countering such blatant propaganda efforts.
I agree, the French government should investigate this thoroughly and provide a transparent account of the facts. Disinformation erodes public trust, so it’s crucial they get ahead of this and set the record straight.