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France accuses Musk of 'online harassment' of European leaders, warns of poll interference

Wionews • October 13, 2026

France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot accused Elon Musk of online harassment targeting European leaders and warned that foreign actors could exploit political divisions to influence France's 2027 presidential election.

France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot on Tuesday (Oct 14) accused billionaire Elon Musk of running online harassment campaigns against European leaders and warned of possible foreign interference in France's 2027 presidential election.

Speaking at a conference organised by the Paris-based Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), Barrot said those seeking to undermine democracy would try to exploit divisions within French society ahead of the election, scheduled for April and May 2027.

“The enemies of democracy will do everything to destabilise us,” he said.

Barrot added that such groups exploit sensitive issues, including immigration, secularism and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, to spread hatred and create tensions.

France raises concerns over Musk's online activity

Barrot accused Musk, the owner of social media platform X, of using the platform's reach to influence political debates across Europe.

He criticised what he described as “massive online harassment campaigns by Elon Musk against European leaders, aimed at influencing national debates by exploiting the viral nature of his social network”.

Musk has openly backed Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. He previously posted that “only the AfD can save Germany” and published an opinion piece defending the party against extremist labels.

He has also amplified by far-right activists, including Tommy Robinson, and political figures such as Nigel Farage, bringing himself into British political debates.

Barrot also alleged that an Israeli company had created fake French accounts to post content the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. However, he did not name the company.

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France Accuses Elon Musk of Online Harassment Ahead of 2027 Presidential Election On October 13, 2026, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot accused Elon Musk of orchestrating online harassment campaigns against European leaders, warning of potential foreign interference in France's upcoming 2027 presidential election. Barrot highlighted that foreign actors are exploiting political and social divisions, particularly around contentious issues like immigration and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, to influence public debate. He specifically mentioned an unidentified Israeli company creating fake French social media accounts to manipulate discussions. Musk has been criticized for using his platform, X, to amplify divisive narratives, including supporting far-right political movements. The minister emphasized that France would not tolerate any foreign interference, asserting it as a matter of national sovereignty. This warning follows weeks of protests by French students, which have been accompanied by hostile online narratives from various foreign sources, including Russia and the MAGA movement. Barrot's statements reflect growing concerns about the integrity of democratic processes in Europe as elections approach. 7 sources 43

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