Russian AI Disinformation Campaign Targets France

A Russian disinformation operation known as Storm-1516 has targeted France with a series of AI-generated scandals and false narratives, according to a report published by NewsGuard on April 17, 2025. The campaign utilized artificial intelligence to create and spread fabricated claims across social media, resulting in approximately 55.8 million views.

The operation is linked to John Mark Dougan, a former Florida deputy sheriff who was granted asylum in Moscow and has since become a Kremlin propagandist. Storm-1516 had previously targeted elections in Germany and the United States before shifting its focus to France.

Campaign Scale and Distribution

Between December 2024 and March 2025, the operation deployed five false narratives. These narratives were disseminated through 38,877 social media posts. This represents a significant increase in activity compared to the preceding four months, from August to November 2024, during which only one narrative targeting France was identified, spreading through 938 posts and accumulating 845,000 views.

The disinformation was not limited to social media platforms. NewsGuard analysts found that leading generative AI chatbots repeated these false narratives, creating a channel where disinformation reaches users through the tools they use to consume news and information.

Targeted Narratives and Objectives

The disinformation campaign appears to be a response to France’s role as a top supporter of Ukraine in the West, particularly following a withdrawal of support from the United States under Donald Trump. The five AI-generated stories were typically launched shortly after the French government issued statements regarding the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

The content of the narratives focused on several specific targets:

• Two stories were designed to discredit French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte Macron.
• One narrative accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of engaging in financial collusion with France.
• Two narratives aimed to incite community-based hatred within France.

Broader Disinformation Context

France has faced a multifaceted information environment involving various international actors. In addition to the Russian efforts, reports from February 2, 2026, indicate that France has been caught in a crossfire of both Russian and American disinformation. This includes the activities of pro-Trump influencer Candace Owens, who has been identified as spreading transphobic fake news regarding Brigitte Macron.

The Storm-1516 operation highlights a shift in tactics, moving from traditional fake news articles to the integration of AI-fabricated videos and the exploitation of AI chatbots to amplify state-sponsored narratives.