The UK government has refused to release information about an Israeli influence firm accused of interfering in Scotland’s parliamentary election, citing national security and warning that disclosure could damage Britain’s relations with other countries, according to The National.
The Scottish newspaper said the Cabinet Office withheld all material requested under Freedom of Information (FOI) laws concerning BlackCore, an Israeli firm linked by France’s foreign interference watchdog to an alleged digital influence operation targeting Scottish First Minister John Swinney and the Scottish National Party (SNP).
The controversy follows findings by Viginum, France’s agency for combating foreign digital interference, which said in June it had identified BlackCore-linked operations targeting elections in Scotland, France, New York City, Angola and Togo.
In Scotland, Viginum identified the ‘mobilisation of at least 256 accounts’ that posted around 1,400 comments, primarily targeting Swinney, the SNP and the Scottish Government. Some 652 comments targeted Swinney personally, according to the investigation.
BlackCore removed its online presence after being publicly identified, while the people behind the alleged campaign have not been publicly established.
