France Finds Fake News from BlackCore

A2

France Finds Fake News from BlackCore

法國發現 BlackCore 散布假新聞


Introduction

The French government found a company called BlackCore. This company uses the internet to change how people vote in other countries.

法國政府發現了一家名為 BlackCore 的公司。該公司利用網路來改變其他國家的投票結果。

Main Body

BlackCore made fake websites and fake social media accounts. They used these to lie about politicians in France and Scotland. They also did this in the USA, Togo, and Angola.

BlackCore 創建了虛假網站和虛假的社交媒體帳號。他們利用這些手段對法國和蘇格蘭的政治人物撒謊。他們在美國、多哥和安哥拉也採取了同樣的行動。

New AI tools make it easy to write fake news in many languages. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu is worried. He wants to protect the 2027 French election.

新的 AI 工具使得用多種語言撰寫假新聞變得容易。總理 Sébastien Lecornu 表示擔憂,他希望保護 2027 年的法國大選。

France is now using special computer tools to stop these lies. They also want to teach people how to find the truth. They want to use the law to stop the fake accounts.

法國目前正使用特殊的電腦工具來阻止這些謊言。他們還希望教導民眾如何尋找真相,並打算利用法律來制止虛假帳號。

Conclusion

France is watching the internet carefully. They want to know who paid BlackCore to lie.

法國正密切監視網路,想查明是誰資助 BlackCore 散布謊言。

Vocabulary Learning

🧩 The 'Doing' Word: Present Simple

Look at how the text describes facts. When we talk about things that are generally true or happen regularly, we use a simple form.

The Pattern:

  • France is... (State of being)
  • BlackCore uses... (Action)
  • Tools make... (Action)

Spot the 'S' Rule \rightarrow When the subject is one thing (a company, a person, a tool), we often add an -s to the action word:

  • Company \rightarrow uses
  • France \rightarrow wants
  • AI \rightarrow makes

Quick Word List:

  • Fake (Not real)
  • Truth (Real/Fact)
  • Worried (Feeling nervous)

Vocabulary Learning

government (n.)
The group of people who rule a country
Example:The government makes new laws for the city.
politicians (n.)
People who work in the government
Example:Politicians give speeches to get more votes.
protect (v.)
To keep someone or something safe
Example:We use a password to protect our emails.
election (n.)
The process of voting to choose a leader
Example:The school election is next Tuesday.
carefully (adv.)
Giving a lot of attention to what you are doing
Example:Please read the instructions carefully.
B2

French Analysis of Global Digital Interference and the Role of BlackCore

法國對全球數位干擾的分析與 BlackCore 的角色


Introduction

The French government has discovered a pattern of foreign digital interference targeting several international elections. These activities have been linked to an Israeli organization known as BlackCore.

法國政府發現了一種針對多場國際選舉的外國數位干擾模式。這些活動被認為與一個名為 BlackCore 的以色列組織有關。

Main Body

The French agency VIGINUM has documented a systematic method used by BlackCore, which involves creating fake social media accounts and false websites to change political opinions. This strategy was seen during French municipal elections, where it specifically targeted candidates from the La France Insoumise (LFI) party. Furthermore, VIGINUM reported that between January and May, BlackCore managed about 256 accounts to post 1,400 comments attacking the Scottish government and the Scottish National Party. Similar interference was also found in the 2025 New York mayoral elections, as well as in Togo and Angola.

法國機構 VIGINUM 記錄了 BlackCore 使用的一套系統化方法,包括創建虛假的社交媒體帳號與偽造網站以改變政治觀點。這種策略在法國市政選舉期間曾出現,當時特別針對「不屈法國」(LFI) 黨的候選人。此外,VIGINUM 報告指出,在一月至五月期間,BlackCore 管理了約 256 個帳號,發布了 1,400 條攻擊蘇格蘭政府與蘇格蘭國民黨的評論。類似的干擾也出現在 2025 年紐約市長選舉,以及多哥與安哥拉。

In response, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has organized meetings with different political parties to fix security weaknesses before the 2027 presidential election. He emphasized that generative artificial intelligence has led to the 'industrialization' of fake news. The government asserts that AI tools have made it easier for foreign actors to create high-quality content in many languages. While the Israeli government has denied any official involvement and is waiting for the full report, the French government has asked for a clear explanation regarding BlackCore's actions.

對此,總理 Sébastien Lecornu 組織了與不同政黨的會議,旨在 2027 年總統大選前修補安全漏洞。他強調生成式人工智慧導致了假新聞的「工業化」。政府主張 AI 工具使外國勢力更容易以多種語言創作高品質內容。雖然以色列政府否認有任何官方參與,並表示正等待完整報告,但法國政府已要求對 BlackCore 的行為給出明確解釋。

To fight these threats, France is using a three-part strategy. First, they are using the technical monitoring skills of VIGINUM and ANSSI. Second, they are improving media literacy for citizens. Finally, they are introducing faster legal processes to stop the spread of manipulated information. However, cybersecurity experts warn that these defenses only work if political parties prioritize digital security in their own plans, which is currently not happening enough.

為了對抗這些威脅,法國正採取一套三部分的策略。第一,利用 VIGINUM 與 ANSSI 的技術監控能力。第二,提高公民的媒體識讀能力。最後,引入更快速的法律程序以阻止操縱資訊的傳播。然而,網絡安全專家警告,只有當政黨在自身計劃中將數位安全視為優先事項時,這些防禦措施才有效,而目前這一點尚未充分落實。

Conclusion

France continues to monitor the growing threat of AI-driven disinformation while seeking international answers about who is funding BlackCore's operations.

法國持續監控由 AI 驅動的假訊息所帶來的日益增加的威脅,同時尋求國際社會對於誰在資助 BlackCore 運作的答案。

Vocabulary Learning

🚀 The "B2 Jump": Moving from Basic to Precise Verbs

An A2 student says: "The government found a problem." A B2 student says: "The government documented a systematic method."

To move toward B2, you must stop using 'general' verbs (like do, make, have, find) and start using 'precise' verbs that describe a professional action.

🔍 The Analysis

Look at how this text describes actions. It doesn't just say things "happened"; it uses verbs that show intent and process:

  • "Documented" \rightarrow Instead of wrote down or saw. It means they collected evidence scientifically.
  • "Emphasized" \rightarrow Instead of said. It means they gave special importance to a point.
  • "Asserts" \rightarrow Instead of says. It means they state something strongly as a fact.
  • "Prioritize" \rightarrow Instead of put first. It means deciding which task is the most important.

🛠️ How to apply this to your speaking

When you describe a situation, ask yourself: "Am I using a 'lazy' verb?"

A2 Level (Basic)B2 Level (Precise)Context Example
SayAssert / Emphasize"The manager asserted that the deadline is final."
Find/SeeDocument / Identify"We identified a bug in the software."
FixAddress / Resolve"The city needs to address the security weakness."
DoImplement / Execute"The company implemented a new strategy."

💡 Pro-Tip: The "Industrialization" Concept

Notice the word "industrialization" used for fake news. B2 English often takes a noun from one area (factories/industry) and applies it to another (internet/news) to show that something is happening on a massive, automatic scale. This is called metaphorical extension—a key trait of advanced fluency.

Vocabulary Learning

interference (n.)
The act of getting involved in a situation where you are not wanted, often to influence the outcome.
Example:The government accused foreign powers of interference in the national elections.
systematic (adj.)
Done according to a fixed plan or system; methodical.
Example:The company took a systematic approach to improving its cybersecurity protocols.
asserts (v.)
To state a fact or belief confidently and forcefully.
Example:The lawyer asserts that his client is innocent of all charges.
literacy (n.)
Knowledge or competence in a specific area or subject.
Example:Media literacy is essential for distinguishing between real news and fake content.
prioritize (v.)
To treat something as more important than other things.
Example:The manager decided to prioritize the most urgent tasks to meet the deadline.
manipulated (adj.)
Controlled or influenced cleverly, unfairly, or unscrupulously.
Example:The public was misled by manipulated images shared on social media.
C2

French State Analysis of Global Digital Interference and the Role of BlackCore

法國政府對全球數位干擾及 BlackCore 角色之分析


Introduction

The French government has identified a pattern of foreign digital interference targeting multiple international electoral processes, attributed to an Israeli entity known as BlackCore.

法國政府已發現一種針對多個國際選舉過程的外國數位干擾模式,並將其歸因於一個名為 BlackCore 的以色列實體。

Main Body

The French agency VIGINUM has documented a systematic modus operandi involving the deployment of inauthentic social media accounts and fabricated websites to manipulate political narratives. This operational framework was observed during French municipal elections, specifically targeting candidates from the La France Insoumise (LFI) party. Furthermore, VIGINUM reported that between January 6 and May 8, BlackCore coordinated the activities of approximately 256 accounts to disseminate 1,400 comments targeting Scottish First Minister John Swinney, the Scottish National Party, and the Scottish government. Similar interference patterns were identified in the 2025 New York mayoral elections, as well as in Togo and Angola.

法國機構 VIGINUM 記錄了一套系統性的操作手法,包括部署不真實的社群媒體帳號與偽造網站來操縱政治論調。此運作框架在法國市政選舉期間被觀察到,特別是針對「不屈法國」(LFI)黨的候選人。此外,VIGINUM 報告指出,在 1 月 6 日至 5 月 8 日之間,BlackCore 協調了約 256 個帳號,發布 1,400 則評論,針對蘇格蘭第一大臣 John Swinney、蘇格蘭國民黨以及蘇格蘭政府。

Institutional responses have focused on the intersection of geopolitical volatility and technological advancement. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has convened cross-party consultations to address vulnerabilities ahead of the 2027 presidential election, citing the 'industrialization' of disinformation facilitated by generative artificial intelligence. The administration posits that large language models have lowered the barrier to entry for foreign actors by enabling the production of high-quality, multilingual content. While the Israeli government has denied state involvement and awaits the full French report, the French executive has requested an explanation regarding BlackCore's activities.

體制性的回應重點在於地緣政治波動與技術進步的交集。總理 Sébastien Lecornu 召集了跨黨派諮詢,以在 2027 年總統大選前解決漏洞,並提到生成式人工智慧(AI)促成了虛假資訊的「工業化」。政府認為,大型語言模型降低了外國勢力的進入門檻,使其能夠產出高品質、多語言的內容。雖然以色列政府否認國家參與並等待法國的完整報告,但法國行政部門已要求就 BlackCore 的活動作出解釋。

Strategic countermeasures involve a tripartite approach: the technical surveillance capabilities of VIGINUM and ANSSI, the enhancement of media literacy among the citizenry, and the implementation of expedited legal procedures to neutralize information manipulation. Despite these efforts, cybersecurity experts suggest that the efficacy of such defenses is contingent upon the digital hygiene of political parties, noting a perceived insufficiency in the prioritization of cybersecurity within party manifestos.

策略性反制措施採取三管齊下:VIGINUM 與 ANSSI 的技術監控能力、提升公民的媒體素養,以及執行快速法律程序以制止資訊操縱。儘管有這些努力,資安專家認為,此類防禦措施的成效取決於政黨自身的數位衛生習慣,並指出政黨在政綱中對資安的優先排序明顯不足。

Conclusion

France continues to monitor the evolving threat of AI-driven disinformation while seeking international clarification on the sponsors of BlackCore's operations.

法國將持續監控 AI 驅動虛假資訊的演變威脅,同時尋求國際社會對 BlackCore 操作贊助者的澄清。

Vocabulary Learning

The Architecture of 'Institutional Nominalization'

To bridge the gap from B2 (competent) to C2 (masterly), a student must move beyond describing actions and start describing phenomena. This text is a masterclass in Nominalization—the process of turning verbs and adjectives into nouns to create an air of objectivity, density, and academic authority.

◈ The Pivot from Action to Concept

Observe how the text avoids simple subject-verb-object structures in favor of complex noun phrases. This is the 'Secret Sauce' of C2 diplomatic and academic writing.

  • B2 Approach: The government is worried that disinformation is becoming more industrial because of AI.
  • C2 Execution: ...citing the ''industrialization'' of disinformation facilitated by generative artificial intelligence.

By transforming the verb industrialize into the noun industrialization, the author transforms a process into a conceptual entity that can be analyzed, cited, and debated.

◈ High-Value Syntactic Clusters

Notice the deployment of "heavy" noun strings that act as the subject of the sentence. This allows the writer to pack an immense amount of information into a single clause without losing coherence:

*"...the intersection of geopolitical volatility and technological advancement."

Anatomy of the phrase: The [Intersection] (Core Noun) $\rightarrow$ of [Geopolitical Volatility] (Modifier A) $\rightarrow$ and [Technological Advancement] (Modifier B).

◈ Lexical Precision: The 'Nuance' Shift

C2 mastery is found in the choice of verbs that describe the nature of a relationship rather than just the action. Compare these transitions:

B2/C1 VerbC2 Text AlternativeLinguistic Impact
Depends onIs contingent uponShifts from a simple dependency to a conditional requirement.
UseDeploymentShifts from a general utility to a strategic, military-style application.
Think/SayPositsShifts from an opinion to a formal theoretical assertion.

◈ Strategic Application for the Learner

To emulate this, avoid starting sentences with "People think..." or "The company did..." Instead, identify the core action and crystallize it into a noun:

  • Instead of: "They are implementing legal procedures more quickly..."
  • Use: "The implementation of expedited legal procedures..."

This shift removes the 'human' actor and highlights the systemic process, which is the hallmark of C2-level formal discourse.

Vocabulary Learning

modus operandi (n.)
A particular way or method of doing something, especially one that is characteristic or well-established.
Example:The detective recognized the killer's modus operandi by the precise way the crime scene was staged.
disseminate (v.)
To spread or disperse information, knowledge, or ideas widely.
Example:The health department used social media to disseminate critical information about the vaccination drive.
volatility (n.)
The quality of being subject to frequent, rapid, and unpredictable change, especially for the worse.
Example:The volatility of the current political climate makes long-term economic forecasting nearly impossible.
posits (v.)
To put forward as a basis for argument; to suggest or assume the existence, fact, or validity of something.
Example:The researcher posits that the increase in urban temperatures is directly linked to the loss of green spaces.
tripartite (adj.)
Consisting of three parts, parties, or aspects.
Example:The peace agreement was a tripartite treaty involving the two warring nations and a neutral mediator.
contingent (adj.)
Subject to chance; dependent on or conditioned by something else.
Example:The success of the merger is contingent upon the approval of the regulatory board.
manifestos (n.)
Public declarations of policy and aims, especially one issued before an election by a political party.
Example:The party's manifestos emphasized a transition to renewable energy and a complete overhaul of the tax system.
Practice All words in a crossword