As France approaches its presidential election, concerns about the manipulation of public opinion through artificial means are growing. A technique known as “astroturfing” has become a significant threat, where a coordinated network of accounts creates the illusion of a spontaneous citizen mobilization. This practice is increasingly sophisticated, making it difficult to detect and counter.
The term “astroturfing” comes from the American brand of artificial turf, AstroTurf, symbolizing the fake nature of this phenomenon. It involves a commanditaire, such as a company, political party, foreign state, or individual, hiring a service provider to deploy a network of automated or semi-automated accounts. These accounts target a person or institution, flooding the digital space with converging publications and exploiting platform algorithms to artificially amplify their reach.
Astroturfing: A Coordinated Manipulation Effort
The mechanism of astroturfing is well-oiled, with the goal of making the targeted audience believe that a grassroots movement exists when, in fact, it is the result of a concerted operation. The accounts used in astroturfing campaigns are designed to mimic authentic users, complete with AI-generated profile pictures, plausible publication histories, and variable timing to evade algorithmic filters. This makes it challenging for platforms to identify these inauthentic, coordinated behaviors unless they reach a massive scale.
A recent example of astroturfing is the case of French politician Édouard Philippe, who was targeted by a coordinated disinformation campaign on social media. These instances highlight the growing concern about astroturfing in France’s political environment, especially with the presidential election looming.
Read Also: French High Schools Shut Amid Unprecedented Protest Violence
Despite the existence of regulatory tools to combat astroturfing, they are often insufficient or inapplicable in many cases. The French regulator, Arcom, can sanction platforms for non-compliance with their systemic obligations, but these powers do not protect individual victims. Another service, VIGINUM, is focused on foreign interference.
Victims of astroturfing can seek relief through legal means, such as filing a complaint for harassment or defamation.
Towards a Specific Offense for Astroturfing
A specific offense for astroturfing is proposed but has not yet been enacted, and existing legal tools remain insufficient. Such a law could be modeled after existing legislation regarding the deliberate, artificial, or automated dissemination of information through online public communication services.
Investigating and Prosecuting Astroturfing
Traces of astroturfing can be found if one knows where to look. A case involving American actors Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively illustrates this.
Read Also: Court rules on mistaken gambling payout
A communication agency was instructed by Justin Baldoni to orchestrate a smear campaign targeting Blake Lively, with explicit orders to make the actions untraceable to the client. Court-ordered production of contracts, emails, and messages between Justin Baldoni and the agency revealed the client.
In France, the VIGINUM report on Operation Rokh Solis provides another example. A blog accused a candidate of a crime, and the post was relayed by hundreds of fake Facebook accounts.
Implementing the “e-evidence” Regulation
The “e-evidence” regulation is applicable since August 2026.
The non-compliance with the orders under this regulation exposes the platforms to financial sanctions. However, the adaptation law has not yet been adopted, which delays the effective application of this regulation. Once the law is adopted, the “e-evidence” regulation will provide a key tool for investigating and prosecuting astroturfing cases.
