Israeli Firm Accused of Targeting Scotland's First Minister
Scotland's First Minister was reportedly targeted by an Israeli technology company spreading online disinformation ahead of the Holyrood election, according to a French government agency.
John Swinney and the Scottish National Party (SNP) were allegedly targeted through accounts linked to BlackCore, a tech firm that claims to "shape narratives." French authorities have accused BlackCore of attempting to smear pro-Palestine election candidates.
The disinformation detection service Viginum reported that hundreds of fake accounts coordinated comments on Swinney's social media posts.
Swinney had previously described the conflict in Gaza as a "man-made humanitarian catastrophe" and suggested that a genocide by Israel might be unfolding.
The SNP subsequently won the Scottish Parliament election on 7 May, securing 58 seats. Swinney was re-elected as First Minister shortly thereafter.
The First Minister described the Viginum report as "deeply concerning."
"It is clear that orchestrated disinformation campaigns and foreign election interference are issues which need to be taken seriously.
Urgent steps need to be taken to counter the threat of foreign online political interference, and ensure that our democratic processes are not undermined.
That begins with the UK Government, which has responsibility for national security, making dealing with hostile state online interference a far higher priority."
Background on BlackCore and Related Investigations
Last month, news agency revealed that French authorities suspected BlackCore was behind an online smear campaign targeting three mayoral candidates from the hard-left France Unbowed party (LFI) during local elections.
Viginum published a detailed report on BlackCore, stating that the company interfered in multiple countries through "digital interference operations." This included the use of "inauthentic accounts" on social media that coordinated online comments targeting Swinney, the SNP, and the Scottish government.
The report noted:
"Viginum identified the mobilization of at least 256 accounts that enabled the spread of 1,400 comments, mainly on posts from @JohnSwinney, @theSNP, and @ScotGovFM (respectively 652, 338 and 112 comments)."
Who Are BlackCore?
BlackCore has been linked to activities in Angola, Togo, and the 2025 mayoral election in New York, which was won by left-wing candidate Zohran Mamdani, a supporter of Palestine.
Marc-Antoine Brillant, chief of Viginum, stated that it remains unclear who commissioned BlackCore to interfere in France and other countries.
"Our investigations did not make it possible to identify the sponsor or sponsors, if indeed they exist, behind this foreign digital interference."
French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu said the French government had requested an explanation from Israel regarding BlackCore's actions and sought assistance in identifying those behind the smear campaign.
"I do not doubt for a single instant that if a French private group, from French soil moreover, had engaged in foreign digital interference in Israel, they would have done the same to its ambassador on site."
BlackCore described itself as an "elite influence, cyber, and technology company built for the modern sera of information warfare." The firm claimed to provide governments and political campaigns with "cutting-edge strategies, advanced tools, and robust security to shape narratives."
Following ' inquiries, BlackCore deleted its online presence.
Israel's embassy in Paris stated it was awaiting details from the French investigation before conducting its own inquiry.
"Israel has, of course, no intention to interfere in the French political process, be it at the national or municipal level."
