Israeli firm accused of election interference across multiple countries

France’s disinformation monitoring service Viginum has said Israeli firm BlackCore, previously suspected of interfering in France’s local elections in March, is also believed to have been involved in political meddling in other countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom.

According to Viginum, the company is suspected of activities linked to elections in New York City and Scotland, as well as operations in Angola and Togo, Reuters learned.

Last month, Reuters reported that French authorities suspected BlackCore of orchestrating an online smear campaign targeting three mayoral candidates from the hard-left, pro-Palestine France Unbowed (LFI) party during local elections.

At a press conference on June 11 alongside French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, Viginum chief Marc-Antoine Brillant said technical investigations had led authorities to identify BlackCore as a central actor.

"This modus operandi was not limited to municipal elections in France," he said. "It also appears to have ⁠been used to carry out foreign digital interference operations in other countries or regions, such as Angola, Togo, the elections in Scotland, and the 2025 municipal election in New York."

Brillant added that investigators had not been able to determine who commissioned the alleged operations.

"Our investigations did not make it possible to identify the sponsor or sponsors, if indeed they exist, behind this foreign digital interference," he said.

French officials said the government has requested explanations from Israel regarding BlackCore’s activities and has also asked for assistance in identifying those behind the alleged smear campaigns. Israel’s embassy in Paris confirmed it had been contacted and said it was awaiting further details from French authorities to conduct its own inquiry.

"Israel has of course no ‌intention to ⁠interfere in the French political process, be it at the national or municipal level," it said in a statement.

Viginum did not specify who may have been targeted in the New York City election, which was won by Zohran Mamdani. His victory was welcomed by younger progressive Jewish voters but raised concerns among more traditional pro-Israel communities due to his outspoken support for the Palestinian cause.

In a separate report, Viginum said it had identified BlackCore-linked accounts targeting John Swinney, the First Minister of Scotland. Swinney has previously described the situation in Gaza as a "man-made humanitarian catastrophe," warning that genocide may be unfolding, citing civilian casualties, widespread destruction and statements ⁠by Israeli officials.

Before removing its online presence following inquiries from Reuters, BlackCore described itself as "an ⁠elite influence, cyber, and technology company built for the modern sera of information warfare." It said it provided governments and political campaigns with "cutting-edge strategies, advanced tools, and robust security to shape narratives."

By Sabina Mammadli