TL;DR
Private Israeli cyber firms are under fire for allegedly selling election interference tools worldwide. Reports say companies like BlackCore used fake social media networks to sway votes, including in New York’s mayoral race. Governments are investigating, but the industry keeps growing.
Key Stories
- BlackCore accused of meddling in New York election — France’s disinformation watchdog says the Israeli firm BlackCore ran fake social media accounts to influence New York’s 2025 mayoral race, won by pro-Palestinian candidate Zohran Mamdani. U.S. agencies haven’t commented yet.
- Private Israeli firms fuel global election interference — Instead of state-led operations, private Israeli cyber firms—staffed by ex-intel agents—are selling digital sabotage tools to foreign clients. These companies specialize in disinformation and psychological warfare.
- France exposes BlackCore’s election manipulation tactics — A 2026 French report details how BlackCore used coordinated fake accounts to shape political narratives in multiple countries, including Scotland and the U.S.
- Israeli cyber industry thrives on election interference — The industry, dominated by veterans of elite units like Mossad, operates as a privatized shadow intelligence market, selling advanced manipulation tools to the highest bidder.