UK Refuses to Release Files on Israeli Firm Accused of Scottish Election Interference

The British government has refused a Freedom of Information request regarding BlackCore, an Israeli influence firm accused by French authorities of running a digital disinformation campaign targeting Scottish First Minister John Swinney during the 2026 parliamentary elections. According to The National, the Cabinet Office invoked Section 24 of the Freedom of Information Act, warning that releasing the documents could damage national security and prejudice the United Kingdom’s relations with other states.

National Security Invoked Over Disinformation Files

The controversy stems from an investigation by Viginum, the French government service for protection against foreign digital interference. In June 2026, Viginum released findings indicating that accounts linked to BlackCore had mobilized at least 256 inauthentic profiles to spread roughly 1,400 coordinated comments across social media platforms. The online activity specifically targeted John Swinney, the Scottish National Party (SNP), and the Scottish Government during a tense electoral cycle where Swinney had described the conflict in Gaza as a humanitarian catastrophe.

Following these revelations, a Scottish newspaper submitted identical requests to both the UK and Scottish governments for correspondence mentioning Viginum. According to Middle East Monitor, the Cabinet Office delayed its initial response before formally withholding all requested material. Officials stated that withholding the records was necessary to avoid giving offense to international partners and to protect sensitive diplomatic trust.

The Cabinet Office asserted that the public interest overwhelmingly favored keeping the information classified. “It is important that this sensitive information is protected, as disclosure of information would damage national security,” the department stated, noting that the threshold to override this protection requires exceptional circumstances.

Divergent Transparency Approaches in London and Edinburgh

While Westminster sealed its records entirely, the Scottish Government adopted a mixed approach. Scottish ministers withheld certain sensitive files on national security grounds but released other internal correspondence. According to source reporting, Scottish officials largely learned of the foreign influence operation through media reports rather than receiving advance briefings from UK security agencies.

In one released email, a Scottish official noted the urgency of the situation, writing to colleagues that the discovery directly intersected with recent regional elections. First Minister John Swinney subsequently called the Viginum findings deeply concerning, emphasizing that foreign interference poses a direct threat to democratic integrity and requires a robust, prioritized national security response from the UK Government.

International Reach of the BlackCore Allegations

The scrutiny surrounding BlackCore extends far beyond the United Kingdom. French authorities previously revealed that the tech firm, which marketed itself as an elite influence and information warfare company, was also suspected of targeting mayoral candidates from the hard-left France Unbowed party during French local elections. Investigations further connected BlackCore-linked digital activity to political processes in Angola, Togo, and the 2025 mayoral race in New York City.

Following public identification by Reuters and French watchdogs, BlackCore scrubbed its online footprint, deleting its website and public profiles. Meanwhile, the Israeli embassy in Paris stated that it was awaiting detailed findings from the French probe before initiating its own inquiry, maintaining that the state had no involvement in unauthorized foreign electoral interference.

The refusal of the UK government to disclose its internal files leaves critical questions unanswered regarding exactly what intelligence Westminster possessed and when officials first became aware of the operation.