During the recent Forum Viginum held on Friday, March 28, French Prime Minister François Bayrou addressed the pressing issue of information manipulation in the digital realm. The event highlighted Viginum, a lesser-known governmental agency established in 2021 to monitor and protect against foreign digital interference.
The forum also shone a spotlight on the responsibilities of major tech companies, thanks to a speech by the president of Arcom, Martin Ajdari. Ajdari expressed a strong desire to enhance cooperation with Viginum.
Ajdari discussed several specific measures, including a lawsuit filed against Elon Musk during the last election campaign in Germany. However, it was Prime Minister François Bayrou’s intervention that captured significant attention…
“We Are Already at War”
Speaking at the Sorbonne University, François Bayrou discussed the increasing threat of foreign digital interference, stating that France is “the country most targeted by manipulation attempts” from abroad, second only to Ukraine.
Bayrou emphasized the vulnerability of France and Europe, arguing that the country’s democratic regime could not survive without “citizens having access to true, reliable information.” Recent reports from Viginum have revealed that these manipulation campaigns are currently orchestrated from countries like Azerbaijan, Iran, and Russia, even going so far as to impersonate established media outlets like Le Parisien.
The Rapid Spread of False Information
At the event, the Minister of AI and Digital Affairs, Clara Chappaz, supported François Bayrou’s statements by discussing the role of “bots” on social networks.
According to Minister Chappaz, the proliferation of misinformation online is partly due to these automated accounts, referencing a substantial 2018 study by MIT which found that false information spreads up to six times faster than true information from such accounts.
To perpetuate misinformation, these accounts reportedly exploit the right to free speech, with Chappaz noting that “there has never been an intention to grant free speech rights to bots.” According to Viginum, Russia has been operating “troll farms” for the past three years, partially to legitimize and support its actions in Ukraine.
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Samantha Klein is a seasoned tech journalist with a sharp focus on Apple and mobile ecosystems. With over a decade of experience, she brings insightful commentary and deep technical understanding to the fast-evolving world of consumer technology.