France accuses Israeli firm BlackCore of orchestrating disinformation campaign in Scottish elections
The French cybersecurity body has linked the Israeli technology company to operations across Scotland, New York, and France, while the Israeli government denies any involvement in foreign electoral meddling.
France’s cybersecurity agency, Viginum, has formally accused the Israeli technology firm BlackCore of conducting a coordinated disinformation campaign during the 2026 Scottish parliamentary elections. The agency identified the firm as the primary actor behind digital interference that targeted First Minister John Swinney, the Scottish National Party (SNP), and the Scottish government between January and May of this year.
According to Viginum, BlackCore utilised proxy social media accounts on the platform X to distribute disinformation. The agency reported that the firm coordinated the posting of approximately 1,400 comments via at least 256 accounts. Specific targets included Swinney’s personal account, which was hit 652 times, the SNP’s official account with 338 mentions, and the Scottish government’s account with 112 references.
The allegations extend beyond Scotland, with Viginum stating that the same modus operandi was employed in the New York mayoral election, municipal elections in France, and operations in Togo and Angola. Marc-Antoine Brillant, Viginum’s head of digital interference, confirmed that while BlackCore was identified as the culprit, the identity of the client who commissioned the services remains unknown.
BlackCore, which previously described itself as an elite influence and cyber company built for information warfare, removed its website following contact from Reuters and did not respond to requests for comment from Linxi News. The firm had previously stated it provided governments and political campaigns with strategies to shape narratives.
In response to the allegations, the Israeli government denied any interest in interfering in other countries' elections. First Minister Swinney, who has previously imposed sanctions on arms firms supplying the Israel Defense Forces, described online disinformation as a real and present threat to democracy. He urged the UK government to prioritise countering hostile state interference, echoing recommendations from Philip Rycroft’s recent review.
French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu warned that the upcoming French presidential election could also face international interference, noting that the entire political class could be a target. The Scottish government and the Cabinet Office have been approached for further comment regarding the allegations.