Gabriel Attal files complaint over Russian interference targeting French presidential campaign
Gabriel Attal, candidate for France's 2027 presidential election, filed a legal complaint in Paris on Friday evening citing foreign interference from Russian networks, including deepfakes and fake media content targeting his campaign.
Attal files complaint over Russian interference
Gabriel Attal, candidate for the 2027 French presidential election and leader of the Renaissance party, filed a legal complaint in Paris on Friday evening for "foreign interference" originating from "Russian networks," his lawyers Sacha Ghozlan and Lucas Veil announced in a statement to AFP on Saturday, August 8. The complaint, which AFP had knowledge of, denounces "acts of foreign interference, manipulation of information, fabrication of fake content, likely to harm the fundamental interests of the nation and the sincerity of the upcoming presidential election." Attal, a former prime minister, also serves as secretary general of the centre-right Renaissance party.
Timeline of alerts
The sequence began with an initial report on Wednesday for "external digital interference" from Russia. State services then informed Attal on Friday of a "new interference operation" that had occurred on Thursday, again from Russian networks. The alert came through the SGDSN (Secretariat general of national defence and security), specifically via the Viginum service, which is charged with vigilance and protection against foreign digital interference. The complaint was deposited in Paris on Friday evening.
- Initial report filed for external digital interference from Russia
- New interference operation from Russian networks detected
- Attal warns on RTL radio that the election can be rigged
- Complaint filed in Paris
- Lawyers Ghozlan and Veil announce complaint to AFP
Fabricated content and impersonation
Attal's lawyers catalogued a range of fabricated materials circulating on social networks and platforms, including deepfakes, fake video reports, and fake newspaper front pages. Several X accounts, some impersonating French and international media outlets, disseminated false reports and content mimicking media logos and graphic design standards. These attributed to Attal and his close associates "lying and false statements, actions, and public positions designed to discredit him as a candidate." Some content also sought to sow confusion about the origin of the deepfakes, directing blame at Attal to suggest he had "himself orchestrated the disinformation targeting him." Among the fabricated claims, Attal was presented as potentially suffering from Parkinson's disease. The lawyers stated that their client was alerted by the SGDSN, and more particularly by the Viginum service, "of the existence of disinformation campaigns targeting him."
Attal's public warning
On Thursday, Attal spoke on RTL radio about the threat, expressing concern about the integrity of the upcoming vote.
If we do nothing to protect ourselves, the election can be rigged.
He accused Russia of wanting to "steal" the election from the French.
Multiple candidates targeted within days
The operations against Attal form part of a broader series of destabilisation efforts attributed to pro-Russian networks that have targeted three declared or prospective presidential candidates within a matter of days, eight months before the first round of the presidential election. Edouard Philippe (Horizons) was smeared over his health. Raphael Glucksmann (Place Publique), a left-wing Member of the European Parliament, was targeted through his partner, journalist Lea Salame, who was accused of having bribed media outlets to favor her husband's candidacy. A judicial inquiry has been opened concerning the Glucksmann case.
According to a security source, the destabilisation operations revealed in recent days have remained low-visibility. They are nonetheless the first to directly target presidential contenders since the beginning of the campaign.
