In brief
French President Emmanuel Macron accused foreign leaders of exploiting last week’s nationwide riots for political advantage, citing AI‑generated footage that fanned the conflict. Speaking in Doha, he singled out Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump, both facing elections, as key instigators. EU regulators and intelligence agencies warn that Russian, Iranian and Algerian disinformation campaigns may have amplified the violence. Meanwhile, a viral AI‑generated image of an elderly couple was traced back to a creator who later apologized for the misinformation it spread. Macron pledged a firm crackdown on “ultra‑left fringe” agitators while calling for tighter controls on foreign interference.
President Emmanuel Macron slammed foreign leaders for exploiting the late‑week riots across France, claiming they used the unrest for electoral gains.
Speaking in Doha during a Middle East visit, Macron said unnamed officials were 'in campaign mode' and had been fed AI‑generated footage of the clashes, which he said aggravated the situation.
He singled out Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump, who are facing elections next week, as likely culprits behind the political narrative.
The protests began as cost‑of‑living demonstrations in cities such as Paris, Lyon, Marseille and Nice, but quickly turned violent with masked rioters battling police and looting stores.
Authorities have detained roughly 150 people and charged over 800, while police admitted losing control during the chaos.
A Financial Times report linked the unrest to foreign disinformation campaigns, with Russian, Iranian and Algerian accounts allegedly spreading fabricated videos to inflame tensions.
In the digital sphere, a viral AI‑generated image of an elderly couple 'robbed in their underwear' was traced to an obscure site; the creator later admitted it was 'Made with AI' and expressed regret over the misinformation it spread.
Macron vowed a 'no‑compromise' stance against agitators from the ultra‑left fringe, blaming them for much of the outbursts.
