An Alliance4Europe study suggests pro-Russian networks sought to stoke public anger online before last weekend’s protests and unrest in France, a claim based on an analysis of more than 500,000 posts.
Alliance4Europe dated the campaign’s start to early September. It said its review covered posts from multiple social media platforms.
Earlier EconoTimes coverage of France’s unrest linked the demonstrations to rising living costs and public-service concerns.
France 24 published the findings Wednesday, Oct. 21. Journalist Sharon Gaffney interviewed Omri Preiss, Alliance4Europe’s managing director, about the research.
Separately, four French tourism groups warned that concern over the violence could damp travel bookings, putting local businesses and jobs at risk. They said the effects could reach beyond tourism to local economic activity.
France plans to use Sentinelle soldiers to free police for the Saturday, Oct. 24 protests, according to an earlier EconoTimes report. The next protest is planned for Saturday, Oct. 24.
