EU investigates possible foreign interference online amid protests in France and other European countries (FT)

Nicoleta Onofrei

21 October 2026, 12:04

International

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Regulatory authorities in the European Union are investigating possible foreign interference and disinformation campaigns that emerged online during the riots in France and episodes of violence and looting in other European countries in recent days. The investigations concern how social networks may have amplified violent content and false narratives.

European officials and disinformation experts claim that pro-Russian and far-right networks, associated with older campaigns, distributed images taken out of context or falsely presented as having been filmed in France. Some videos garnered millions of views. Possible influence operations attributed to Iran and Algeria are also being analyzed.

European officials emphasize, however, that there is currently no concrete evidence that Russian agents directly provoked the violence. The preliminary assessment is that foreign actors reacted to the events and attempted to amplify them, against a backdrop of domestic discontent and political radicalization.

The European Commission discussed with French authorities and representatives of the member states cooperation with the platforms X, TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Amazon, and Vinted. The platforms were asked to limit the amplification of violent content and remove listings for goods suspected of originating from looting. Brussels warned that it would intervene if the risk became systemic and the platforms failed to cooperate.

Context: The Commission called on platforms to take measures to limit the amplification of incitement to violence

In fact, the European Commission held discussions with the French authority Arcom regarding the risks posed by platforms and their algorithms. At a briefing on October 19, spokesperson Thomas Regnier announced close contacts with Arcom and another meeting with the French authorities that same day, while also clarifying that he had not confirmed the detection of any foreign manipulation operations, nor announced a formal investigation related to the protests; officials insisted that peaceful demonstrations must be protected and that enforcing the rules against incitement to violence falls within the obligations set out by the DSA.

Along the same lines of monitoring online manipulation, the Paris Public Prosecutor's Office subsequently opened an investigation into disinformation campaigns targeting two candidates in the 2027 presidential election. The investigation mentioned fabricated videos about Edouard Philippe and Gabriel Attal, while the Viginum agency identified networks affiliated with Russia as possible suspects. In this regard, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot warned that France would not tolerate foreign interference in the electoral process, citing attempts at destabilization by pro-Russian networks that allegedly targeted several candidates, along with the idea that platform regulation could reduce the risk of online manipulation.