AI-Driven Russian Disinformation Campaign Targets French Presidential Candidate
2026-08-04 | FRA | incident | reputational, safety
Our take
Storm-1516 is running a deepfake pipeline aimed at Glucksmann and the people around him. Foreign interference no longer requires foreigners on the ground.
The facts
A Russian-linked group, Storm-1516, used AI-generated deepfakes, fake media, and manipulated voices in a disinformation campaign targeting French presidential hopeful Raphaël Glucksmann, his partner Léa Salamé, and journalist Edwy Plenel. The operation aimed to destabilize France's 2027 presidential election, undermining democratic processes through sophisticated AI-enabled digital interference.