Russia Turns its attention to France: Macron's Campaign hacked

AW Admin · May 5, 2017

Leading French presidential candidate Emmanuel Macron's campaign said on Friday it had been the target of a "massive" computer hack that dumped its campaign emails online 1-1/2 days before voters choose between the centrist and his far-right rival Marine Le Pen.

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-france-election-macron-leaks-idUSKBN1812AZ

Yeah, there's a pattern here.

MaeZe · May 5, 2017

Without knowing what is in the emails, I would hope the French public, having seen what happened here, would stick it to Putin and make Macron's lead bigger.

Do we have any French nationals or others with more intimate knowledge here on the forum? I'd love to hear from someone who knows more about the French election.

Brightdreamer · May 5, 2017

You know, if I were ultra-paranoid, I'd wonder if part of the reason heels are dragging on a Russia influence/hack probe in America has anything to do with having less concrete evidence to back Macron and other international candidates who are victims of coincidental, damaging pre-election hacks... but that would mean the bear's got its claws in DC far, far deeper and more securely than I care to envision.

I, too, hope that what happened here lessens the impact and raises red flags, but I wouldn't hold my breath on that hope. Russia knows this game very well...

AW Admin · May 6, 2017

More from NPR:

Wikileaks posted 9 gigabytes of Macron's campaign data, which is said to include both real and fake documents. Fingers are being pointed at Russia, though the Kremlin denies involvement.

This all sounds so very familiar, particularly this bit:

Nicolas Tenzer, a specialist in cyber attacks and disinformation, told Eleanor Beardsley, "It seems that all this hacking was directed on Macron by Russia's propaganda teams, and we all know that Wikileaks actively is working for Russia."

This isn't the first time Macron's campaign has said it was the target of hacks. When the centrist candidate began to emerge as a frontrunner, his campaign began reporting that they were being targeted by the Kremlin with disinformation and hacking campaigns. At the time, the French government warned Russia against meddling in their election.

ElaineA · May 6, 2017

The most insidious thing about this dump (and one I hope will REALLY raise red-flags for voters) is it happened at the very last minute before France's "silent period." From WIRED:

Its timing so close to the runoff could still prove strategic, as French law forbids candidates from speaking publicly for two days ahead of an election. That timing could prevent Macron himself from responding to any scandal that surfaces in the data dump, real or fabricated.

Here's hoping the French are more savvy about the tactic than we Americans were.

ETA: BUT WAIT. Look what France does:

Emmanuel Macron hacked emails: French media ordered by electoral commission not to publish content of messages
Journalists could face criminal charges for violating laws preventing influence on vote

*sigh* So jealous.

MaeZe · May 6, 2017

ElaineA said:
.... Look what France does:

I'm curious though, if there is censorship of the Net at the same time.

Also, it's more than just the emails. Macron files lawsuit over offshore rumors spread by websites linked to Russia

I wonder if they also had Macedonian teens flooding social media as well.

ElaineA · May 6, 2017

They had massive bot action. Are you on Twitter? Here's a graph in particular: https://twitter.com/RVAwonk/status/860675977181003776 Caroline O's feed is always worth following, but if you just scroll through the last 24 hrs of posts, it's pretty eye-opening.

MaeZe · May 6, 2017

That is an interesting read.

Russia Turns its attention to France: Macron's Campaign hacked

AW Admin

MaeZe

Brightdreamer

Just Another Lazy Perfectionist

AW Admin

ElaineA

All about that action, boss.

MaeZe

ElaineA

All about that action, boss.

MaeZe