The far right in France has long been on the rise, but the first round of parliamentary elections has brought them closer than ever to gaining power. They have capitalized on bread-and-butter issues such as the cost of living and social reforms to appeal to voters. But disinformation has also played a role in their success. Supporters have deployed tactics such as mirroring websites and spreading misleading narratives. Among those targeted: journalists and fact-checkers, who have faced online harassment and threats.
Our guest is Marie Bohner, head of development and partnerships, digital investigations at Agence France-Presse (AFP). We talked with Bohner about disinformation trends and intimidation tactics used to silence critical journalism in the country.
The conversation, hosted by Javier Luque, IPI Head of Digital Communications, was recorded just days before the second round of elections in France, the results of which could have significant implications for the country’s media landscape and for the European Union.
Guests: Marie Bohner, head of development and partnerships, digital investigation at AFP
Producer and host: Javier Luque, head of digital communications at IPI
Related links mentioned in the episode:
Other episodes in this series:
Season 2
Episode 1: How Austria’s far right sows distrust in media
Season 1
Episode 2: How journalists investigate the far right
Episode 3: Fact-checkers targeted by populists in Europe
Episode 4: When disinformation campaigns fuel hate and harassment
Episode 5: Alexander Roth – Smeared and threatened by the far-right next door
Episode 6: Franziska Tschinderle – Attacked by Orbán’s state media
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This podcast series is part of the project Decoding the disinformation playbook of populism in Europe, which is supported by the European Media and Information Fund, managed by Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation.
Disclaimer:
The sole responsibility for any content supported by the European Media and Information Fund lies with the author(s) and it may not necessarily reflect the positions of the EMIF and the Fund Partners, the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation and the European University Institute.
