France Accuses BlackCore of Using 256 X Accounts to Interfere in Scottish Election
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jun 12
France Accuses BlackCore of Using 256 X Accounts to Interfere in Scottish Election
3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jun 12
Summary
Viginum said BlackCore ran a campaign against John Swinney, the SNP and the Scottish government from Jan. 6 to May 8, before and during Scotland’s parliamentary election.
At least 256 proxy X accounts posted about 1,400 coordinated comments, with Swinney targeted 652 times, the SNP 338 and the Scottish government 112, according to the French agency.
Viginum said the Israeli firm also used the same methods in France’s municipal elections and in New York’s 2025 mayoral race, but investigators could not identify any sponsor behind the operations.
Israel said it would review the French report before deciding on any investigation and denied any interest in meddling in foreign elections, while Swinney called online disinformation a “real and present threat” to democracy.
Who is funding the private firms that weaponize social media to interfere in foreign elections?
Can democracy survive when social media algorithms make falsehoods more profitable than facts?
As AI supercharges disinformation, who is responsible for protecting democracy: tech giants or governments?
BlackCore Disinformation Network Exposed: Foreign Interference in the 2026 Scottish Election and Global Democratic Threats
Overview
In June 2026, French authorities uncovered a major coordinated disinformation attack linked to the group BlackCore, which targeted political figures and elections in multiple countries. Viginum, France’s vigilance agency, played a key role in exposing how BlackCore-linked accounts aimed at influencing the Scottish Parliament election by targeting First Minister John Swinney, who had spoken out on Gaza. The revelations led to international tensions, with France seeking explanations from Israel and launching investigations to identify those behind the campaign. These events highlighted the growing threat of foreign interference and the urgent need for stronger measures to protect democratic processes.