French study uncovers Russian disinformation tactics amid legislative campaign

Russian disinformation campaigns are targeting social media to destabilise France’s political scene during its legislative campaign, according to a study by the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS). The study highlights Kremlin strategies such as normalising far-right ideologies and weakening the ‘Republican front’ that opposes the far-right Rassemblement National (RN).

Researchers noted that Russia’s influence tactics, including astroturfing and meme wars, have been used previously during the 2016 US presidential elections and the 2022 French presidential elections to support RN figurehead Marine Le Pen. The Kremlin’s current efforts aim to exploit ongoing global conflicts, such as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, to influence French political dynamics.

Despite these findings, the actual impact of these disinformation campaigns remains uncertain. Some experts argue that while such interference may sway voter behaviour or amplify tensions, the overall effect is limited. The CNRS study focused on activity on X (formerly Twitter) and acknowledged that further research is needed to understand the broader implications of these digital disruptions.