The Quai d’Orsay has launched an official response account on X to combat disinformation and fake news, created about two months ago. The spokesperson highlighted the importance of proactively engaging in the information war, emphasizing that leading the battle is essential for success. The account will address various issues, including the war in Ukraine and misinformation affecting French democracy, but there are discussions about the effectiveness of responding to certain claims, such as the fake coup d’état video, due to potential counterproductive effects like the Streisand effect.
When asked about France’s strategy in combating misinformation, particularly in French-speaking Africa, the spokesperson confirmed that efforts include monitoring and analyzing disinformation, creating timely responses, and coordinating across numerous institutional accounts. While current engagement is limited, the focus remains on posting responses rather than amassing followers. The spokesperson also mentioned an appeal to social media platforms, highlighting concerns regarding the enforcement of the Digital Services Act (DSA) and the lack of responsiveness from platforms to reported harmful content, which poses a threat to public discourse.
