French Intelligence Chief Céline Berthon Targeted by Pro-Russian Disinformation Campaign
Paris – Céline Berthon, the first woman to lead France’s domestic intelligence agency, the General Directorate for Internal Security (DGSI), has become the target of a sophisticated disinformation campaign alleging her resignation. The campaign, which began circulating in July, utilized fabricated screenshots of a non-existent Le Monde article to spread the false narrative. The disinformation operation, linked to pro-Russian actors, is the latest in a series of attempts to undermine French institutions and sow discord within the country.
The fabricated Le Monde article, dated July 27, carried the sensational headline: “It’s out of control: intelligence chief resigns after soaring online revenues, threaten to cause euro to crash.” A second fabricated screenshot featured a photograph of Berthon alongside a paragraph falsely claiming her resignation stemmed from an inability to prevent illicit cryptocurrency flows within France. These screenshots, shared widely on social media, were accompanied by unsubstantiated allegations linking the DGSI to these supposed cryptocurrency operations. The narrative falsely asserted that these “untraceable funds” would be used by the French state to suppress anticipated autumn protests. To bolster the credibility of their claims, the disseminators of this disinformation alleged that Le Monde had deliberately deleted the article in an attempt to cover up the story, thus fueling conspiracy theories.
Initially, the campaign employed phishing tactics, embedding the false narrative within links that redirected users to scam websites. However, as the summer progressed, the focus shifted from phishing to the propagation of the false resignation narrative itself. Euroverify, a fact-checking organization, tracked the dissemination of the disinformation to several websites known for promoting pro-Russian propaganda. Among these platforms were websites belonging to the French Pravda network and a blog operated by Cyrille de Lattre, a French expatriate residing in Russia. De Lattre, a former pilot and self-proclaimed geopolitical analyst, frequently appears on Russian state television and is known for his pro-Kremlin stance.
De Lattre’s blog entry accused French President Emmanuel Macron of orchestrating a cover-up of Berthon’s alleged resignation, framing the event as part of a broader “internal crisis” within the French government. This accusation amplified the disinformation campaign’s narrative, further contributing to the erosion of public trust in French institutions. The targeting of Berthon and the DGSI represents a continuation of a pattern of Russian disinformation campaigns aimed at destabilizing France.
This disinformation campaign against Berthon is not an isolated incident. It aligns with a broader pattern of pro-Russian disinformation operations seeking to undermine Western democracies, particularly France. By targeting the head of France’s domestic intelligence agency, the campaign aimed to discredit the institution, sow distrust in the government, and potentially disrupt internal security operations. The fabricated narrative surrounding cryptocurrency further sought to exploit existing anxieties surrounding financial stability and government overreach. The timing of the campaign, coinciding with anticipated protests, suggests a deliberate attempt to exacerbate social tensions and undermine public order.
The campaign’s reliance on fabricated screenshots and conspiracy theories underscores the increasingly sophisticated tactics employed in modern disinformation operations. By mimicking the visual format of reputable news outlets like Le Monde, the campaign sought to exploit the inherent trust individuals place in established media sources. The subsequent claim of Le Monde deleting the article played into pre-existing narratives of media manipulation and government cover-ups, further amplifying the reach and impact of the disinformation. The shift from phishing tactics to pure disinformation propagation highlights the adaptability of these campaigns, constantly evolving to maximize their effectiveness.
The involvement of pro-Russian actors, like De Lattre and the French Pravda network, points towards a coordinated effort to leverage the disinformation campaign for geopolitical gain. By accusing President Macron of a cover-up and framing the alleged resignation as an internal crisis, the campaign sought to portray the French government as unstable and untrustworthy. This narrative aligns with broader Russian strategic objectives of weakening Western alliances and undermining public confidence in democratic institutions. The continuous targeting of French intelligence services by Russian disinformation campaigns highlights the perceived strategic importance of France as a key player in European security.
French authorities, and indeed democratic institutions worldwide, face a significant challenge in combating this type of sophisticated disinformation. The rapid spread of false narratives through social media necessitates a multi-pronged approach, including media literacy initiatives, fact-checking efforts, and enhanced cybersecurity measures. Furthermore, addressing the underlying societal factors that contribute to the susceptibility of individuals to disinformation, such as distrust in government and anxiety about complex issues like cryptocurrency, is crucial. The case of Céline Berthon serves as astark reminder of the ongoing threat posed by disinformation and the urgent need for robust strategies to counter its insidious effects. The targeting of a key figure in French national security underscores the gravity of this challenge and the potential consequences for democratic societies.