Key facts
- France's foreign minister, Jean-Noël Barrot, accused Elon Musk of orchestrating online harassment campaigns against European leaders.
- Barrot stated these campaigns exploit social media virality to polarize public debate and undermine democracy.
- Musk and Donald Trump commented on recent French protests, linking them to mass migration.
- The French government is working to counter foreign interference in its political discourse.
France's foreign minister, Jean-Noël Barrot, has accused Elon Musk of using his social media platform X to launch "massive online harassment campaigns" against European leaders. Barrot stated these campaigns aim to destabilize democracies and influence public debate by exploiting the virality of digital platforms.
Speaking at an OECD conference, Barrot highlighted the role of social media in the global battle over democracy, noting that "political movements with authoritarian aims" are gaining ground by exacerbating societal polarization. He specifically cited the upcoming 2027 French presidential election, where far-right leader Marine Le Pen is currently the frontrunner, as a target for such destabilization efforts.