French Minister Claims Elon Musk Conducts 'Online Harassment Campaigns' Against European Leaders

At an Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development conference, France’s Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot criticized Elon Musk for allegedly using his social media platform to orchestrate "massive online harassment campaigns" against European leaders. Barrot highlighted the role of social media in the global battle for democracy, stating that forces undermining democracy now dominate the information landscape by polarizing public debate. This trend has allowed political movements with authoritarian aims to gain traction in Europe and North America, exacerbating societal polarization with the ultimate goal of seizing and retaining power.

Barrot pointed to the upcoming 2027 presidential election in France, where Marine Le Pen, a far-right leader, is a frontrunner. He warned that democracy's enemies are working to destabilize France by exploiting societal divisions over issues like immigration, secularism, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He also mentioned examples of foreign interference, such as an unnamed Israeli company allegedly creating fake French social media accounts to influence perceptions of the Israel-Gaza conflict and accusations against Azerbaijan for stirring tensions in the French Pacific territory of New Caledonia.

Musk, the owner of the social media platform X, was specifically singled out for launching harassment campaigns against European leaders to exploit the virality of his platform. Musk did not respond to a request for comment.

Barrot also addressed recent protests in France involving schoolchildren, students, and trade unionists, which have been exploited by hostile narratives from Russia, China, and Iran, as well as the US-based Maga movement. Last week, Musk and former US President Donald Trump attempted to recast these protests through a lens of mass migration, ignoring demands for better school conditions.

Barrot emphasized the challenge of combating paid or commissioned influencers seeking to exploit digital platforms' viral reach. He noted that the Kremlin aims to end liberal democracies in favor of new authoritarianism, with other actors seeking to dictate which European democracies are considered "good" or "bad" based on their interests.

The French minister's remarks follow British Prime Minister Andy Burnham's statement that Russia interfered in the Brexit referendum. Barrot assured that France would counter foreign interference efforts, emphasizing the importance of sovereignty and the uncompromising stance against any foreign interference, regardless of its source.