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Bed bug bites: present in many accommodations worldwide - and now a means of propaganda
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Science Photo Library / IMAGO
They are usually less than a centimeter long, flat, and their bites can be extremely itchy: bed bugs are bloodsuckers that are excellent at hiding and also like to eat human blood.
A real hysteria broke out in France last summer.
People increasingly reported suspected or actual bed bugs from trains, cinemas and other places - often accompanied by photos of the parasites.
France's European Minister Jean-Noël Barrot accuses Russia of helping to fuel the excitement.
Since the start of the Ukraine war, Russian destabilization attempts in France have increased in order to undermine public support for Ukraine, he told broadcaster TF1.
The controversy over bed bugs has been "artificially amplified on social networks by accounts that are demonstrably Russian-inspired or of Russian origin," Barrot said.
more on the subject
Tips from the bed bug expert: "Definitely sleep in bed - as bait" An interview by Franziska Bulban
Concern about parasite infestation: Bed bugs are causing excitement in France's politicians
On the road with an exterminator: In the bed bug battle zone of BerlinA self-experiment by Alexander Smoltczyk
A false connection was even made between the arrival of Ukrainian refugees and the spread of bed bugs: "This was strongly reinforced by accounts linked to the Kremlin." The European Minister cited the spraying of Paris buildings as another example of a Russian attempt at destabilization with Stars of David shortly after the start of the Gaza war, photos of which were spread across social networks.
In mid-February, France agreed with Germany and Poland to take joint action against Russian troll campaigns and cyberattacks.
The three countries were victims of the same Russian destabilization strategy and wanted to defend themselves together, it was said.
The excitement over bed bugs stirred national politics in France last year, and the insects became an issue in Parliament.
Paris City Hall said the invasion of the blood-sucking insects must be tackled before next year's Olympics, and the transport minister urged train and bus operators to prevent bedbugs from breeding on seats.
Many hotels preemptively checked their rooms with the help of sniffer dogs to avoid negative advertising on booking platforms.
According to authorities, the prevalence of bed bugs has actually increased in recent years.
Between 2017 and 2022, an estimated eleven percent of all French households were affected by bed bugs.
Insects are also on the rise worldwide.
Disinformation as a campaign
more on the subject
Russian disinformation: “Their aim is to divide our society” An interview by Markus Becker and Marcel Rosenbach
Social psychologist Pia Lamberty on disinformation: “We are not prepared for what is happening right now” An interview by Maria Fiedler
Targeted disinformation is part of Russia's hybrid warfare.
In an interview with SPIEGEL, social psychologist Pia Lamberty, who researches conspiracy ideologies, explains how Moscow is proceeding: "Since the occupation of Crimea in 2014 and especially since the beginning of the invasion in 2022, disinformation has been an elementary part of Russia's warfare," she says.
In Germany the intensity has recently increased even further.
"Russia wants to undermine consent for military support for Ukraine." There are huge networks of Russian propaganda accounts on social media, and the Russian embassies themselves are also involved.
"Their covert approach is about destabilizing and dividing our society - and flooding the information space with their own narratives," says Lutz Güllner, head of the EU Department for Strategic Communications, in an interview with SPIEGEL.
abl/dpa