BlackCore election interference scandal

In June 2026, Viginum, the French government watchdog against foreign digital interference, accused Israeli entity BlackCore of interfering in elections in France, and subsequently accused the entity of election interference in New York City, Scotland, Togo, and Angola.[1][2][3][4]

Background

BlackCore is an Israeli influence and cyber entity based in Tel Aviv.[5] BlackCore described itself as "an ⁠elite influence, cyber, and technology company built for the modern sera of information warfare,"[6] including providing political campaigns and governments with "cutting-edge strategies, advanced tools, and robust security to shape narratives."[1] There was no legal entity found behind the name[7] though investigators linked 2 active companies to the operation - Galacticos Ltd.[8] and SNI Digital Ltd.[9] Both are companies registered at the same Tel Aviv address, 103 HaHashmonaim Street, [2][10] and shared web infrastructure. Investigators named Guy Geyor as part of management of SNI; Yigal Unna and Doron Afik as part of Galacticos management.[11][7] The investigators also linked Nir Dobicky, a resident of Sweden of Israeli origin who ran companies in the UK and Sweden for the operation. [12][13][14]

Following inquiries by Reuters, BlackCore scrubbed its online presence with its LinkedIn page and website going blank.[1][15][16]

Election interference allegations

In May 2026, French intelligence agencies were examining if BlackCore had interfered in elections in a smear campaign against three far-left politicians in France's 2026 municipal elections.[17][18][19][20]

On 11 June 2026, French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu held a press conference with French government agency Viginum's chief Marc-Antoine Brillant, with Brillant saying that technical work had led them to BlackCore.[1][21] Viginum subsequently produced a report on BlackCore's alleged election interference work, including in New York City, Scotland, Togo, and Angola.[1][22]

Brillant said, "This modus operandi was not limited to municipal elections in France," adding, "It also appears to have ⁠been used to carry out foreign digital interference operations in other countries or regions, such as Angola, Togo, the elections in Scotland, and the 2025 municipal election in New York."[1]

Brillant noted that "Our investigations did not make it possible to identify the sponsor or sponsors, if indeed they exist, behind this foreign digital interference."[23]

France

In May 2026 Viginum opened an investigation into BlackCore after it had noted a "system of artificial or automated dissemination to spread manifestly inaccurate or misleading content."[20]

On 20 May 2026, Viginum deputy head Anne-Sophie Dhiver told French lawmakers that "a private company based in Israel that specializes in selling online destabilization services" had targeted candidates of the hard-left La France Insoumise (LFI) party, including Sébastien Delogu (Marseille), François Piquemal (Toulouse) and David Guiraud (Roubaix).[24][25] The objective of the campaign was to " smear pro-Palestine election candidates".[26]

On 13 June 2026, Le Monde published an article alleging that other firms may have also been involved in interfering in French local elections in addition to BlackCore.[27]

Angola

BlackCore developed a training program for the Angolan government.

Scotland

The report described efforts by BlackCore-linked accounts targeting First Minister of Scotland John Swinney.[1] Viginum said hundreds of fake social media accounts would leave co-ordinated comments on Swinney's posts as well as SNP and Scottish government accounts.[28][29] Swinney had described the conflict in Gaza as a "man-made humanitarian catastrophe" and said a genocide by Israel may be unfolding. He described the Viginum report as "deeply concerning" and called on the UK government to deal with hostile state online interference with a far higher priority.[30]

New York

According to the investigators, BlackCore is suspected of targeting the 2025 mayoral election in New York, which was won by Zohran Mamdani, a Democratic Socialist and a supporter of Palestine.[30][31]

Reaction

François Piquemal, one of the French politicians allegedly targeted, advanced to the runoff in the Toulouse mayoral race but lost in the second round.[25] During parliamentary questions on 20 May 2026, Piquemal condemned the "facts of extreme gravity for our country’s sovereignty", asking if the French government would summon "the Israeli ambassador to ask for an explanation."[25]

Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez replied by noting legal proceedings were underway on an "obviously malicious" campaign of foreign interference in the election.[25]

Fake Palestinian aid charity

Blackcore was also accused of operating a fake Palestinian charity. Viginum presented evidence of BlackCore's links to "Sadaqah Palestine", a purported Palestinian charity, suggest that it was part of efforts to fraudulently target pro-Palestinian audiences.[32][33]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Gabriel, Stargardter (June 11, 2026). "Israeli firm BlackCore suspected of meddling in New York and Scotland votes, France says". Reuters.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  2. ^ a b "Israeli firm BlackCore suspected of meddling in NYC, Scotland elections". Haaretz. Archived from the original on 2026-06-12. Retrieved 2026-06-13.
  3. ^ "France probes BlackCore over election meddling claims". 2026-05-13. Retrieved 2026-06-11.
  4. ^ "Ingérence lors des municipales contre des candidats LFI : de BlackCore à Tel-Aviv, ce que les enquêtes de Libération et Haaretz révèlent". France 3 Occitanie (in French). 2026-05-15. Retrieved 2026-06-11.
  5. ^ "Municipales 2026 : retour sur l'opération d'ingérence numérique contre LFI". Next (in French). 2026-06-04. Retrieved 2026-06-11.
  6. ^ Carrell, Severin; Chrisafis, Angelique (2026-06-12). "France accuses Israeli firm of interfering in Scottish elections and targeting SNP". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2026-06-13.
  7. ^ a b Glenton, Joe (2026-05-19). "BlackCore: Inside an Israeli foreign influence operation". Canary. Retrieved 2026-06-13.
  8. ^ "Registration Number: 516599818". KYC Israel. Archived from the original on 2026-06-23. Retrieved 2026-06-13.
  9. ^ "Registration Number: 516320363". KYC Israel. Archived from the original on 2026-06-23. Retrieved 2026-06-13.
  10. ^ Ponton, Freddie (2026-05-15). "BlackCore: Israel's Cyber Hitmen in French Elections". 21st Century Wire. Archived from the original on 2026-06-13. Retrieved 2026-06-13.
  11. ^ Rokh Solis : Analyse d'un mode opératoire informationnel (PDF). VIGINUM. 2026. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2026-06-13.
  12. ^ "Viginum Just Wrote a Sales Brochure for Blackcore Disinformation | flyingpenguin". www.flyingpenguin.com. Retrieved 2026-06-22.
  13. ^ "Iron Mind AB i Täby | Köp bolagsdata". www.ratsit.se (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 2026-06-23. Retrieved 2026-06-22.
  14. ^ Rokh Solis: Analyse d'un mode operatoire informationnel ayant cible les elections municipales de mars 2026 [Rokh Solis: Analysis of an information operation modus operandi targeting the municipal elections of March 2026] (PDF). France: VIGINUM. 2026. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2026-06-22.
  15. ^ "BlackCore's Post". LinkedIn.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  16. ^ "BlackCore | Turning Intelligence into Impact". blackcore.online. Archived from the original on 2026-04-02. Retrieved 2026-06-13.
  17. ^ "French authorities probe Israeli firm BlackCore for alleged smear campaign | The Jerusalem Post". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. 2026-05-13. Retrieved 2026-06-11.
  18. ^ Stargardter, Gabriel (May 27, 2026). "Paris prosecutors probe alleged foreign smear campaigns in local elections". Reuters.
  19. ^ "Revealed: An anti-left influence operation in France leads to Tel Aviv". Haaretz. Archived from the original on 2026-06-13. Retrieved 2026-06-13.
  20. ^ a b "French prosecutors probe possible foreign interference targeting hard left". 2026-05-27. Retrieved 2026-06-11.
  21. ^ "Des «menaces lourdes» sur la présidentielle : Sébastien Lecornu intime de rester vigilant face aux risques d'ingérences étrangères". www.cnews.fr (in French). 2026-06-11. Retrieved 2026-06-11.
  22. ^ "Israeli firm accused of meddling in Scotland, New York elections". The New Arab. 2026-06-12. Retrieved 2026-06-14.
  23. ^ AFP (2026-06-12). "Israeli firm BlackCore suspected of meddling in New York and Scotland votes, France says". The Times of Israel. ISSN 0040-7909. Retrieved 2026-06-12.
  24. ^ "La France insoumise demande à Sébastien Lecornu la "création d'une instance de surveillance de la campagne" pour l'élection présidentielle". franceinfo (in French). 2026-06-11. Retrieved 2026-06-11.
  25. ^ a b c d "French authorities probe Israeli firm's alleged interference in local elections". POLITICO. 2026-05-20. Retrieved 2026-06-11.
  26. ^ "Israeli tech firm accused of targeting First Minister John Swinney". www.bbc.com. 2026-06-12. Retrieved 2026-06-13.
  27. ^ "Several firms may have been involved in interference during French local elections". 2026-06-13. Retrieved 2026-06-15.
  28. ^ "Israeli tech firm accused of targeting First Minister John Swinney". www.bbc.com. 2026-06-12. Retrieved 2026-06-12.
  29. ^ Carrell, Severin; Chrisafis, Angelique (2026-06-12). "France accuses Israeli firm of interfering in Scottish elections and targeting SNP". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2026-06-12.
  30. ^ a b "Israeli tech firm accused of targeting First Minister John Swinney". www.bbc.com. 2026-06-12. Retrieved 2026-06-13.
  31. ^ "Israeli firm BlackCore suspected of meddling in New York and Scotland votes, France says". Reuters.
  32. ^ "French investigators say Israeli firm behind fake Palestinian aid charity". The New Arab. 2026-06-13.
  33. ^ "The fake Gaza charity linked to the anti-left disinformation campaign in France". Haaretz. Archived from the original on 2026-06-14. Retrieved 2026-06-22.

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