French minister accuses Moscow of fueling fears of parasites. Russian accounts used social networks for disinformation, says Jean-Noël Barrot.
Disinformation is part of Russia's hybrid warfare, says social psychologist Pia Lamberty. In mid-February, France agreed with Germany and Poland to take joint action against Russian troll campaigns and cyberattacks, says Lutz Güllner, head of the EU Department for Strategic Communications. The excitement over bed bugs stirred national politics in France last year, and the insects became an issue in Parliament.