russian disinformation network intensifies in France
russian disinformation activity is increasing in France. Journalists reported more than 200 newly created fake media websites. Over 140 of them imitate well-known French outlets and distort their articles to promote pro-kremlin narratives.
▫️This network is linked to Operation “Storm-1516,” also known as Doppelgänger, coordinated by propagandist John Mark Dougan — a key executor of kremlin campaigns in Europe. The Center has previously exposed a similar network, CopyCop, also run by Dougan.
▫️The operation works by publishing thousands of AI-generated articles on fake sites, styled to look identical to local media. This imitation allows disinformation to penetrate public discourse quickly and influence public opinion. Since October, the volume of published content from these resources has sharply increased.
▫️The kremlin’s goal is to undermine French trust in institutions and discredit President Emmanuel Macron ahead of the 2026 municipal elections.
For France and the EU, this is a warning: without updated cybersecurity tools and large-scale media literacy programs, democratic processes will remain vulnerable to kremlin information attacks.
