EU examines pro-Kremlin disinformation around French riots as France and Italy blame foreign powers

Summary

European regulators are examining the role of social media platforms in spreading disinformation and hate speech around the violence and looting in the French riots, and are investigating pro-Kremlin disinformation linked to them, according to the Financial Times. French and Italian ministers have blamed foreign powers for using social media to fuel riots across Europe. Euronews reports that there is so far no evidence that foreign powers caused the riots, only that they exploited them, and that Brussels has refused to act, citing a lack of evidence.

Timeline

1. Financial Times

   21 Oct 2026, 04:00 UTCSource ↗

   The Financial Times reports that the EU is probing pro-Kremlin disinformation around the French riots, with regulators examining the role of social media platforms in spreading disinformation and hate speech around the violence and looting.

2. Euronews

   21 Oct 2026, 12:30 UTCSource ↗

   Euronews reports that there is so far no evidence that foreign powers caused Europe's riots, only that they exploited them, despite French and Italian politicians blaming online manipulation, and that Brussels has refused to act citing a lack of evidence.