Report Finds Surge in Russian Disinformation Targeting French Media Ahead of 2027 Election

Pro-Russian influence operations have driven an 850 percent surge in fake news stories that mimic the branding of real media outlets, according to a report published this week by disinformation research firm NewsGuard, as reported by France 24.

The report found that among the 15 most frequently imitated news outlets worldwide, eight are French, including France 24 itself. The findings point to an intensifying campaign of impersonation and disinformation aimed at French audiences as the country heads toward its 2027 presidential election.

How the operations work

Disinformation campaigns of this kind typically involve creating fake articles or entire fabricated websites designed to resemble legitimate news brands, in an effort to lend false credibility to misleading or fabricated claims. By mimicking the visual identity and naming conventions of trusted outlets, such operations aim to make disinformation harder for readers to distinguish from genuine reporting.

NewsGuard has tracked Russia-linked influence operations for several years, documenting networks that spread narratives favorable to the Kremlin across Europe and elsewhere. France, as one of the European Union's largest member states and a vocal supporter of Ukraine, has been a recurring target of such campaigns.

The timing of the reported surge, ahead of France's next presidential race, echoes concerns raised by European officials and researchers in previous election cycles about foreign interference through coordinated disinformation efforts on social media and fake news sites.

France 24 did not report an official French government response to the NewsGuard findings at the time of publication. It was also not immediately clear what specific countermeasures, if any, platforms or regulators plan to take in response to the report.