World · Europe · 7 hrs ago
Assessments say foreign-linked accounts exploited France’s riots online
Riots in France last month followed protests over living costs and public services.
An EU assessment says a covert Russian network called Operation Overload used social media to blame the unrest on immigration and portray the government as losing control.
Some videos falsely claimed migrants had raped protesters or that terrorist attacks were imminent.
A separate French Foreign Ministry assessment says accounts linked to Israel and the US MAGA movement connected the riots to radical Islamism and migration.
The EU assessment found no evidence that Russia or other actors started or intensified the protests, but said they exploited the unrest.
MAGA-linked posts drew more than 49 million views, and Israel-linked posts more than 35 million on X from October 16 to 18, according to the French assessment.
The assessments describe efforts to shape public opinion and deepen fear and division, while Reuters could not independently verify their claims.
French and European Union assessments say foreign-linked social media accounts exploited last month’s riots in France to promote narratives about immigration, Islamism and government weakness.
The EU assessment said a covert Russian network called Operation Overload spread videos impersonating Western media, including false claims about migrants and imminent terrorist attacks.
A separate French assessment said accounts linked to Israel and the US MAGA movement pushed narratives tying the unrest to radical Islamism and migration.
The EU assessment found no evidence that Russia or other actors instigated or escalated the protests, describing the activity as opportunistic exploitation.
French officials cited President Emmanuel Macron as saying there had been foreign manipulation of information, but no visible foreign interference behind the protests.
- Who
- A covert Russian network, plus social media accounts linked to Israel and the US MAGA movement.
- What
- Assessments say the accounts exploited French riots online with narratives about immigration, Islamism and government weakness.
- When
- The riots took place last month, in October 2026. The EU assessment covered October 7 to 21.
- Where
- France, with social media content targeting French audiences.
- Why
- The assessments say external actors sought to use domestic turmoil for political ends and shape public perceptions.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Operation Overload was active, according to the EU report.
The EU assessment examined Russian activity around the French unrest.
The French ministry counted views on the most-viewed X posts about the unrest from Russian-, MAGA- and Israeli-linked accounts.
Macron said there had been no visible foreign interference behind the protests, but there had been foreign manipulation of information.
The assessments were reported by the Times of Israel and the Straits Times.
- Russian network
- Operation Overload
- Russian-linked X posts
- 2.8 million views for the 10 most-viewed posts, October 16–18
- MAGA-linked X posts
- More than 49 million views for the 10 most-viewed posts, October 16–18
- Israeli-linked X posts
- More than 35 million views for the 10 most-viewed posts, October 16–18
- EU assessment period
- October 7–21, 2026
2 sources
What people are saying
Such events offer opportunities to undermine national governments, fuel fear and division, and shape public perceptions ahead of elections
the opportunistic exploitation of unrest
narrative competition
not be the last concoction which the authorities will use to manipulate public opinion