France’s foreign minister Jean-Noël Barrot leveled accusations against Elon Musk during an Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development conference, asserting that the social media platform owner had coordinated “massive online harassment campaigns” targeting European leaders. Barrot framed these activities as part of a broader pattern of foreign interference designed to destabilize democratic institutions across Europe and North America.
Barrot characterized the current global information landscape as dominated by forces seeking to undermine democracy through polarization tactics. He argued that political movements with authoritarian objectives have gained momentum by exploiting societal divisions and leveraging social media platforms to amplify discord. The minister identified immigration, secularism, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as issues being weaponized to intensify tensions and hostility within European societies.
In his remarks, Barrot specifically highlighted France’s 2027 presidential election as a target of destabilization efforts by hostile actors. He cited multiple examples of foreign interference, including an unnamed Israeli company accused of creating fake social media accounts to shape perceptions regarding the Israel-Gaza conflict, and accusations that Azerbaijan exploited tensions during unrest in the French Pacific territory New Caledonia. Barrot also referenced hostile narratives from Russia, China, and Iran, as well as figures associated with the American political movement, which he characterized as seeking to exploit recent French protests over school conditions.
The minister emphasized that his government would take an uncompromising stance against all forms of foreign interference, framing such protection as a matter of national sovereignty. Barrot indicated France would work to counter efforts by foreign entities to influence its democratic processes through commissioned influencers and coordinated social media campaigns designed to manipulate public discourse and exploit the viral mechanisms of digital platforms.
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