Iran and Russia are working to encourage the violent protests in France through social-media influence campaigns, The Times reported Wednesday, citing multiple researchers. According to the report, French President Emmanuel Macron blocked publication of a government report documenting Iranian interference in order to avoid a confrontation with Tehran.
Intelligence and police officials in France claimed that foreign influencers published content over the past month that "encouraged tensions" in the protests, the report said. Senior officials in the French government rejected the allegations, however, and at this stage there is no proof that foreign actors triggered the start of the protest wave.
