Israeli firm BlackCore meddled in US and Scottish elections, French watchdog says

What Happened

On Thursday, the French disinformation watchdog Viginum, via its chief Marc-Antoine Brillant, announced at a press conference with French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu that Israeli cyber firm BlackCore is suspected of meddling in elections beyond France. The firm had already been accused of orchestrating an online smear campaign against three left-wing, pro-Palestine candidates from France Unbowed (LFI) in local elections in Marseille, Toulouse, and Roubaix. Brillant stated that BlackCore's 'modus operandi' was also used in foreign digital interference operations targeting the 2025 New York City municipal election (won by Zohran Mamdani, a vocal supporter of Palestine) and elections in Scotland, where first minister John Swinney was targeted. The campaigns used deceptive websites, social media accounts, and false criminal allegations. Brillant said the sponsor behind the operations remains unidentified. Israel's embassy in Paris confirmed France requested explanations and said it awaits investigation details to conduct its own inquiry. BlackCore, which previously described itself as an 'influence, cyber, and technology company' for 'information warfare', has not responded to requests for comment.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The disclosure broadens the scope of suspected Israeli corporate influence operations beyond France to U.S. and U.K. elections, revealing a pattern of targeting pro-Palestinian voices through coordinated disinformation. It adds a new dimension to transnational digital interference linked to the Israel–Palestine conflict, potentially affecting political discourse and electoral outcomes in Israel-aligned democracies. The French government's formal appeal to Israel underscores diplomatic sensitivity, while the unidentified sponsorship raises security and accountability questions.

Watch For

French and Israeli investigations into the sponsorship of the operations; possible responses from U.S. and Scottish authorities, including the FBI, NYPD, and CISA; any recovery of BlackCore's online footprint or further technical disclosures; and potential impact on diplomatic relations or electoral integrity debates ahead of the 2025 New York City and Scottish contests.