France suspects Israeli firm BlackCore of meddling in New York and Scottish elections

France's disinformation detection service, Viginum, has identified the Israeli firm BlackCore as a suspect in foreign digital interference operations targeting elections in New York City and Scotland, as well as in Angola and Togo. The firm was previously suspected of interfering in France's local elections in March. Viginum chief Marc-Antoine Brillant announced on Thursday that technical analysis linked BlackCore to these alleged actions. He stated that the firm's "modus operandi was not limited to municipal elections in France" and "appears to have been used to carry out foreign digital interference operations in other countries or regions." However, Brillant noted that the sponsors behind BlackCore's alleged interference remain unidentified. French Minister of the Interior Sebastien Lecornu said the French government has requested explanations from Israel regarding BlackCore's activities and assistance in identifying the masterminds behind the smear campaigns. Israel's embassy in Paris confirmed communication with France and stated its intention to investigate, emphasizing that Israel "has of course no intention to interfere in the French political process." While the specific targets in the New York City election were not explicitly named, the report mentioned John Swinney, the first minister of Scotland, as a target of BlackCore-linked accounts. Swinney has been vocal about the humanitarian situation in Gaza, describing it as a "man-made humanitarian catastrophe."

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This modus operandi was not limited to municipal elections in France. 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.