Massive influence campaign floods France with racist ads, months before 2027 presidential election

A new study reveals a significant influence campaign linked to Qatar, featuring ads that promote racist and Islamophobic messages in Europe. The campaign includes a parody video game and has reached millions of viewers on social media. Researchers estimate it to be the largest influence operation targeting EU countries, with a budget exceeding €10 million and around 830 million views over three years. Despite its illegal nature, the campaign has persisted, highlighting the challenges in regulating online content.