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Russian network exploited French riots online: EU report
Published : Monday, 9 November, 2026 at 7:59 PM
Observer Online Report
Collected Photo
A covert Russian network exploited recent riots in France by spreading fake social media posts blaming uncontrolled immigration for the unrest and portraying the government as weak, according to an internal European Union assessment seen by Reuters.
The report said the network, known as 'Operation Overload', circulated fabricated videos impersonating Western media outlets, including false claims that migrants had raped protesters and terrorist attacks were imminent.
An assessment by France's foreign ministry also found that accounts linked to Israel and the US MAGA movement spread hostile narratives surrounding the unrest, linking it to radical Islamism and migration.
The French report said the 10 most-viewed X posts from MAGA-linked accounts received more than 49 million views between October 16 and 18, while posts from Israeli-linked accounts generated over 35 million views. Pro-Russian posts received 2.8 million views during the same period.
The EU assessment, covering October 7-21, said the campaigns sought to fuel social divisions and undermine confidence in French leadership. However, it found no evidence that foreign actors had instigated or escalated the protests.
French President Emmanuel Macron earlier acknowledged foreign information manipulation but said there was no visible foreign interference behind the demonstrations.
The reports highlight growing concerns over coordinated disinformation campaigns targeting European democracies and exploiting domestic crises for geopolitical influence.
-AH
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Published by the Editor on behalf of the Observer Ltd. from Globe Printers, 24/A, New Eskaton Road, Ramna, Dhaka.
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