Israeli firm BlackCore meddled in US and Scottish elections, French watchdog says Submitted by Ayse Betul on Fri, 06/12/2026 - 10:19 Already accused of influencing French votes, the Israeli company is now suspected of targeting pro-Palestine figures in elections in New York City and Scotland New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani after he was sworn in as New York City’s mayor, 1 January 2026 (Spencer Platt/AFP/Getty Images) Off Israeli cyber firm BlackCore, recently accused of interfering in France ’s local elections, is also suspected of meddling in elections in New York City and Scotland , according to the French disinformation watchdog Viginum, the news agency Reuters has reported. At a press conference on Thursday alongside French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu, ​Viginum chief Marc-Antoine Brillant said technical investigations had led them to suspect BlackCore. The watchdog said BlackCore was suspected of influence operations ​around the world.

Cyber agency says BlackCore targeted John Swinney, as well as interfering in New York and French elections France’s cybersecurity agency has accused the Israeli tech company BlackCore of interfering in the Scottish elections earlier this year by targeting the first minister, John Swinney. The disinformation detection agency Viginum said BlackCore had this year used proxy social media accounts to target Swinney, the Scottish National party, and the Scottish government on four occasions. Continue reading...

Watchdog says Israeli firm BlackCore influenced elections across multiple countries France’s digital interference watchdog, Viginum, has linked Israeli company BlackCore to online influence and propaganda campaigns conducted across Europe, Africa and the United States. In a report released on Sunday, Viginum said the operations targeted elections and political figures in locations including France, Scotland, Angola, Togo and New York City. According to the report, accounts linked to BlackCore targeted John Swinney, who described Gaza as a “man-made humanitarian catastrophe”, and also focused on candidates from the French left-wing party La France Insoumise through automated accounts, data leaks and the circulation of fabricated allegations.

Israeli firm BlackCore, suspected of interfering in France's local elections in March, is also suspected of meddling in elections in New York City and Scotland, and operating in Angola and Togo, France's disinformation detection service, Viginum, said on Thursday.

Israeli firm interfered in elections in Scotland and New York An Israeli tech firm interfered in elections in Scotland and New York, the head of France's disinformation ⁠detection service said on Thursday. Officials identified BlackCore, a self-described Israeli "elite influence, cyber and technology" firm, as being behind a range of election interference operations across the globe, including targeting left-wing candidates in France's 2026 municipal elections. "This ⁠modus operandi was not limited to municipal elections in France," the head of Viginum, Marc-Antoine Brillant, said.

PARIS, June 11 (Reuters) - Israeli firm BlackCore, suspected of interfering in France’s local elections in March, is also suspected of meddling in elections in New York City and Scotland, and operating in Angola and Togo, France’s disinformation detection service, Viginum, said on Thursday.

Thirteen fake news websites launched in 2025 all unilaterally promoted China. An investigation by the Viginum government agency has established that they were directly connected to the Chinese state-run television channel CGTN.

FRANCUSKA agencija Viginum optužila je izraelsku tvrtku BlackCore za upletanje u škotske izbore ciljanjem premijera Johna Swinneyja i SNP-a putem lažnih profila na društvenim mrežama.

Viginum, l'organisme français chargé de prévenir les ingérences numériques étrangères, a identifié un vaste réseau de propagande venu de Chine. Des pseudo-sites d'actualité et des comptes sur les réseaux sociaux visant à promouvoir la Chine, en lien direct avec la chaîne de télévision d'état chinoise CGTN.