June 13, 2026
Ballots, bots, and big side-eye
Israeli firm BlackCore suspected of meddling in New York and Scotland votes
France points at Israeli firm as commenters rage, shrug, and demand answers
TLDR: France says an Israeli firm, BlackCore, may have tried to sway elections in several places, including New York and Scotland, and now wants answers. Commenters are torn between outrage over foreign meddling and a grim shrug that this is just political spin gone global.
This story landed like a political reality-show bombshell: France’s disinformation watchdog says Israeli firm BlackCore may have run online meddling campaigns not just in French local races, but also in New York City, Scotland, Angola, and Togo. French officials say they’ve even asked Israel for help figuring out who was really behind the alleged smear effort. BlackCore, which reportedly presented itself as an influence and cyber company, has not responded.
But the real fireworks are in the comments, where people are split between full outrage and world-weary cynicism. One furious poster went straight for maximum heat, saying the Israeli ambassador in France should have been kicked out long ago. Others zoomed out and turned it into a bigger panic about foreign influence everywhere, with one commenter dragging in Trump, lobbyists, and even an old KGB defector interview like the thread had suddenly become a late-night conspiracy dorm room debate.
Then came the skeptics: is this shocking election meddling, or just a shady PR shop doing what shady PR shops do? That take sparked its own mini-drama, with people arguing that if political spin is happening inside France, Scotland, or New York, it should at least be handled by firms that answer to local laws. And one commenter gave a slow clap to French diplomacy, calling the move of asking Israel for help a “very well executed bit of diplomacy.” In other words: some see a scandal, some see business-as-usual, and everyone wants to know who paid for it.
Key Points
- •Viginum said Israeli firm BlackCore is suspected of foreign digital interference in France, Scotland, New York City, Angola and Togo.
- •French authorities previously suspected BlackCore of running an online smear campaign against three France Unbowed mayoral candidates in March local elections.
- •Viginum chief Marc-Antoine Brillant said technical analysis led the agency to BlackCore, but investigators have not identified who commissioned the activity in France.
- •French official Sebastien Lecornu said France asked Israel for explanations and assistance; Israel's embassy in Paris confirmed contact and said it awaited investigative details.
- •Viginum's report said BlackCore-linked accounts targeted Scotland's first minister John Swinney, while the SNP reported bot-like online activity during the election period.