France’s foreign minister has accused Elon Musk of using his social media platform to organize “massive online harassment campaigns” against European leaders, as he warned about foreign efforts to destabilize France ahead of next year’s presidential election.
Speaking at an Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development conference on Tuesday, Jean-Noël Barrot highlighted the role social media now plays in the global struggle over democracy. “The forces seeking to undermine democracy now dominate the information landscape, where they employ tactics designed to polarise public debate,” he said.
As a result, “political movements with authoritarian aims” that “play right into the hands of democracy’s declared enemies” have been gaining ground in Europe and North America, he said.
“They exacerbate the polarisation of our societies,” he added. “Their ultimate goal is clear: to seize power and then create the conditions to never relinquish it.”
Barrot pointed to France’s 2027 presidential election, where far-right leader Marine Le Pen is leading in the polls. “The enemies of democracy are doing everything they can to destabilise us,” he said. “They exploit our divisions and use immigration, secularism and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to stoke hatred and tensions.”
He gave several other examples, from an unnamed Israeli company accused of creating fake French social media accounts to influence perceptions of the Israel-Gaza war, to accusations that Azerbaijan stirred up tensions during deadly riots in the French Pacific territory of New Caledonia.
Barrot also singled out Musk, the world’s richest man and owner of the social media platform X. “There are massive online harassment campaigns launched by Elon Musk against European leaders in order to influence debates by exploiting the virality of his social media platform.”
Musk did not respond to a request for comment.
Barrot also mentioned the protests that have shaken France in recent weeks, as schoolchildren, students and trade unionists blockaded schools and marched through cities. These events, Barrot said, had been exploited by “hostile narratives” from Russia, China and Iran, as well as those linked to the Maga movement in the US.
Last week, Musk and US President Donald Trump commented on the protests in France, seeking to frame them through the lens of mass migration and dismissing protesters’ demands for better school conditions.
Barrot said his government was working to respond to a reality in which paid or commissioned influencers seek to exploit the viral reach of digital platforms. “The Kremlin’s goal is explicitly stated: to put an end to our liberal democracies in favour of a new authoritarianism. Other actors are converging on this goal, seeking to dictate to Europe which democracies are ‘good’ and which are ‘bad’ based on whether they align with their own interests,” he said.
The French minister’s remarks came days after British prime minister Andy Burnham said it was “clear” that Russia had interfered in the Brexit referendum.
Barrot said his government would work to counter these”We are uncompromising because it is clear to us that they undermine the nation’s fundamental interests,” he said. “We do not tolerate any foreign interference, no matter where it comes from. It is a matter of sovereignty.”
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs France Accuses Elon Musk of Online Harassment Campaigns Against European Leaders
1 What happened
A French government minister publicly accused Elon Musk of using his platform X to run online harassment campaigns against European leaders
2 Who made the accusation
A French minister speaking on behalf of the French government The accusation was aimed directly at Musk as the owner of X
3 What is an online harassment campaign
Its a coordinated effort to flood someone with hostile posts insults or threats often using a large platform to amplify the abuse
4 Which European leaders were targeted
The accusation referred broadly to European leaders including figures Musk has publicly attacked such as UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and German officials
5 Why is Musk being blamed
Because he owns X posts to millions of followers and his posts often trigger waves of abuse from other users toward the people he criticizes
6 Did Musk respond
Musk has a history of dismissing such accusations often mocking critics or calling them politically motivated
7 Why does this matter
X has huge reach When its owner attacks a leader it can shape public opinion and unleash mass abuse which raises serious questions about platform power
8 What is platform amplification
Its when a platforms design or owners behavior makes certain content spread much further than normal like a post being pushed to millions of users
9 What is the difference between criticism and harassment
Criticism targets ideas or policies Harassment targets a person with abuse threats or repeated hostile attacks meant to intimidate
10 Is this a legal issue
Possibly France and other EU countries have laws against online harassment and defamation and the EUs Digital Services Act regulates large platforms
11 What is the Digital Services Act
An EU law that requires big platforms like X to moderate illegal content be transparent and reduce systemic risks including harassment
12 Can a platform owner be held responsible for users posts
Generally platforms arent liable for every user post but the DSA and national laws can hold them accountable if they fail to act on illegal content
13 Why is France specifically involved
France has been active in pushing for stricter platform regulation in the EU and French officials have clashed
