European Union regulators are investigating whether foreign groups are taking advantage of unrest and violence in France and other European countries by using coordinated disinformation campaigns on social media.
Security officials, cited by the Financial Times, have pointed out that accounts previously linked to pro-Russian propaganda and far-right groups have published violent footage. This has heightened concerns that the spread of the videos could fuel tensions and lead to further chaos.
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Suspicions of possible influence are not limited to Russia; experts have also mentioned Iran and Algeria. So far, however, no concrete evidence has been presented that these countries directly encouraged the violence on the ground or significantly influenced the course of events.
An EU official said the aim was to understand the extent of the platforms’ cooperation. The official warned that they must not allow algorithms to increase the reach of potential disinformation campaigns.
David Colon, a researcher at Sciences Po and an expert on disinformation, said influencers close to the Kremlin had spread false narratives about the events. He mentioned the Russian operation Storm-1516, known for manipulating information, and the Matryoshka influence network.
Colon added that pro-Russian influencers had neither started the protests nor determined how they unfolded.
The French government and other authorities have asked intelligence agencies to investigate whether people with links to Russia played a more direct role in inciting violence in Paris and other major cities.
A senior European intelligence official said there was so far no concrete evidence of direct provocations by Russian agents. According to the official, the activity detected appears to have taken place mainly online and followed events on the ground, while investigations in France are still in their early stages.
The Financial Times reported on a video of protesters setting off fireworks that was posted on X and received nearly six million views. The footage was presented as having been filmed in France, but was actually from protests in Tbilisi, Georgia, in 2024.
The case illustrates how old footage or recordings made in other places can be presented as current events, creating false impressions and heightening tensions online.
According to the EU’s diplomatic service, in continental Europe, France is the second-most targeted country by state-sponsored disinformation operations, after Ukraine.
In 2023, people suspected of having links to Russia painted Stars of David on buildings in Paris. Viginum, the French agency that combats foreign digital interference, assessed that the aim of the operation was to fuel divisions in French society.
Experts have also expressed concern about possible influence operations that could be linked to Iran and Algeria.
As an example, Colon mentioned Shahin Khazami, a Franco-Iranian influencer who has published videos from protests in France, including footage showing police using violence against protesters. One of his videos on X has received around four million views.
Khazami has categorically denied allegations that he works as an agent for a foreign state. He has said that he is an independent journalist and that his pro-Palestinian political views are being used to discredit him.
Experts warn that the interaction between influencers, algorithms and foreign actors could accelerate the circulation of highly emotional content, fueling polarization and violent behavior.
Concerns about the influence of social media extend beyond France. In Italy, where violent protests took place over the weekend, particularly in Milan, Defense Minister Guido Crosetto described the situation as a “hybrid war” conducted through unconventional means, including TikTok, social media and YouTube.
In Belgium, authorities have announced that they will examine TikTok’s role in spreading content related to the unrest. Regulators have also asked e-commerce platforms, including Amazon and Vinted, to stop selling goods suspected of having been taken during looting.
Authorities are also expected to investigate the possible involvement of far-left organizations in several incidents. Intelligence officials, however, emphasize that political radicalization and domestic grievances remain among the main causes of the unrest.
Brussels calls on online platforms to take action
The European Commission has met with French authorities and media regulator Arcom to discuss cooperation with social media networks, including X, where racist and violent content has spread rapidly.
Brussels has asked platforms to take steps to prevent algorithms from increasing the visibility of violence and similar incidents. The Commission says that national authorities bear primary responsibility for managing the situation, but that the EU can intervene if the risk becomes systemic and platforms fail to cooperate.
“Violence taking place offline must not be amplified or rewarded by online algorithms,” said Thomas Rainier, a spokesperson for the European Commission.
European officials warn that the role of foreign interference should not be portrayed as greater than it is. According to them, external actors may exploit citizens’ anger and amplify it online, but this does not make them the primary cause of the unrest.
