France's Macron campaign emails appear to be leaked online

[JohnBrown1917]

No, it means French media won't be able to comment on it, leaving dubious internet pages free to spread misinformatin unopposed.

Exactly why it happens now, outside forces messing with an election.... again.

[Deleted]

Too late. Even if some lunatics think Russians did this, they would do it much sooner.

[Zandalarian Paladin]

As the Reuters article mentions, they just entered a blackout period where they aren't able to campaign anymore. I would hazard a guess that this means he's not allowed to get out in front of this to try and soften the blow (if there's anything potentially negative or that could be construed as negative) as that could be taken as him campaigning.

Yes, it also means that Le Pen can't do the same, but she doesn't have to. Political commentators and members of the media could hammer him for it for her (again, if there's anything potentially damaging or that is able to be spun negatively). So that could be why it is being leaked now (if it is legit).

Since Reuters broke the story and cite a statement by the Macron campaign I wouldn't be quite as quick to call this fake news.

Mise à jour : En Marche a diffusé un communiqué de presse confirmant l’authenticité des documents. Le parti a condamné le timing de cette publication visant à déstabiliser le processus électoral et a affirmé que les documents ont été complétés par des faux, au milieu de documents légaux qui « traduisent le fonctionnement normal d’une campagne présidentielle ».

« Nous appelons les médias désireux de rendre compte de cette opération à prendre leurs responsabilités en conscience. Il ne s’agit en effet pas d’une simple opération de piratage mais bel et bien d’une tentative de déstabiliser l’élection présidentielle française. Il importe par conséquent de prendre en considération la nature des documents fuités, de bien prendre conscience de ce qu’une grande partie d’entre eux sont purement et simplement des faux et l’opportunité de l’écho à donner à cette opération de déstabilisation.

Nous prendrons toutes les initiatives nécessaires auprès des acteurs publics et privés pour faire la clarté sur cette opération inédite dans une campagne électorale française. »

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Update: En Marche diffused a press communication confirming the authenticity of these documents. The party has condemned the timing of this publication aiming to destabilize the electoral process and affirmed that some documents have been used to artificially fill others with false information, amidst legal documents that "translate the inner workings of a regular presidential campaign".

"We call the media willing to share this operation to take their responsibilities seriously. This is not about any regular hacking operation, but a genuine attempt to destabilize the French's presidential election. It is important in that regard to consider the value of these leaked documents, to take consciousness that a large amount of these leaked documents are falsified and that the echo chamber phenomenon may give wings to this destabilization campaign.

We will take every possible initiatives required within the public and private sector to clarify this unprecedented operation within a French presidential election."

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http://www.numerama.com/politique/25...es-cartes.html

Sorry for the armchair translation of this article. Did the best I could as fast that I could.

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No, it means French media won't be able to comment on it, leaving dubious internet pages free to spread misinformatin unopposed.

There's less than 24 hours before the elections. This will have no decisive impact at all.

[Noradin]

There's less than 24 hours before the elections. This will have no decisive impact at all.

Hopefully.

[Brubear]

Mise à jour : En Marche a diffusé un communiqué de presse confirmant l’authenticité des documents. Le parti a condamné le timing de cette publication visant à déstabiliser le processus électoral et a affirmé que les documents ont été complétés par des faux, au milieu de documents légaux qui « traduisent le fonctionnement normal d’une campagne présidentielle ».

« Nous appelons les médias désireux de rendre compte de cette opération à prendre leurs responsabilités en conscience. Il ne s’agit en effet pas d’une simple opération de piratage mais bel et bien d’une tentative de déstabiliser l’élection présidentielle française. Il importe par conséquent de prendre en considération la nature des documents fuités, de bien prendre conscience de ce qu’une grande partie d’entre eux sont purement et simplement des faux et l’opportunité de l’écho à donner à cette opération de déstabilisation.

Nous prendrons toutes les initiatives nécessaires auprès des acteurs publics et privés pour faire la clarté sur cette opération inédite dans une campagne électorale française. »

---

Update: En Marche diffused a press communication confirming the authenticity of these documents. The party has condemned the timing of this publication aiming to destabilize the electoral process and affirmed that some documents have been used to artificially fill others with false information, amidst legal documents that "translate the inner workings of a regular presidential campaign".

"We call the media willing to share this operation to take their responsibilities seriously. This is not about any regular hacking operation, but a genuine attempt to destabilize the French's presidential election. It is important in that regard to consider the value of these leaked documents, to take consciousness that a large amount of these leaked documents are falsified and that the echo chamber phenomenon may give wings to this destabilization campaign.

We will take every possible initiatives required within the public and private sector to clarify this unprecedented operation within a French presidential election."

---

http://www.numerama.com/politique/25...es-cartes.html

Sorry for the armchair translation of this article. Did the best I could as fast that I could.

- - - Updated - - -



There's less than 24 hours before the elections. This will have no decisive impact at all.

Whether Google's translation of "issued a press release" is correct or your translation "diffused a press communication" significantly changes whether at least parts of the leak are accurate or not. *EDIT* Yeah, diffusé is coming up as "broadcast" which points towards them issuing a release confirming at least some of the leaks are real.

Hopefully it won't have an effect, but even if it doesn't it does feel like another attempt to sway an election towards one side.

[Deleted]

Probably Putin again, he doesn't realize yet that France isn't UK/USA.

They have been through way worse and a hack isn't going to sway the election.

France in the past and current has always been extremely punishing towards candidates who thrive of hate.

[Zandalarian Paladin]

Whether Google's translation of "issued a press release" is correct or your translation "diffused a press communication" significantly changes whether at least parts of the leak are accurate or not.

Hopefully it won't have an effect, but even if it doesn't it does feel like another attempt to sway an election towards one side.

Yeah I wasn't sure how to say that in english, but seems like "press release" is the accurate translation here.

Although this is widely different from the american elections, where information was accurate and validated by IC. This here contains several gigabytes of falsified data, effectively making it "fake news" taken to another level by the "distributor".

[Brubear]

Yeah I wasn't sure how to say that in english, but seems like "press release" is the accurate translation here.

Although this is widely different from the american elections, where information was accurate and validated by IC. This here contains several gigabytes of falsified data, effectively making it "fake news" taken to another level by the "distributor".

Which could be why they're releasing it so late. Given the size of the leak and the short time-frame, there's time for people to comb through it and find things, but not necessarily prove or disprove anything.

Again, it might not be effective, but it sure feels like a way to disrupt Macrons position.

[Draco-Onis]

Lepen already showed her hand during the debate when she brought out the unfounded offshore account insinuation, this is a very obvious attempt by Putin to make sure she wins.

[Jimusmc]

lol @ people who think it's russia just like trump.

thanks for the free entertainment

[alexw]

lol @ people who think it's russia just like trump.

thanks for the free entertainment

No no its jina, just ask Trump, its always the fault of jina, unless its those Mexican rapists of course, or Muslims, don't forget the Muslims.

[Garnier Fructis]

This will just make Macron's win that much more satisfying.

[Kelathos]

Its true his emails where hacked, but they also added a ton of fake shit.

Sound like quite a crime. Probably even to spread it?

[Deleted]

Something that bothers me about this is the following (please feel free to point out if my analysis is off)

-Macron said the hacks took place 2 weeks ago (which he has no reason to lie about)
-This is released less than 1.5 days before voting starts
-It is 9gb worth of emails (roughly 100,000 +/-)

If this was done by a non-state actor, it would be fair to say that the hackers didn't read everything and jump dumped it on the internet.

Given that this didn't happen, it will be fair to say that this was in fact done by a state actor (*cough* Russia *cough*)

But even if Russia were the hackers, why not do it earlier?
The main reason to release the emails this would be because it will mostly control news cycles and people will debate back and forth on whether or not the emails are real for a very long time (see US).
Instead they release it a day before the election and (probably) spiked it with some fake emails that will surely cause an uproar.
They will then proceed to link these mails to journalists claiming they are citizens who stumbled upon it. (Because of this don't trust anything about what is actually in the leaked emails for at least the next 5-6 hours since it is highly unlikely that any journalist came across it independently).

However I am still failing to see the advantage of them leaking it only now

The only way in which this makes sense is if Russia (or whoever is behing it) is actually betting on 2 horses and left some of the more (possibly personally?) incendiary material out of these likes so that they have some leverage over macron even if he does come out on top and win the elections.

What do you guys think of this?

[Garnier Fructis]

Its true his emails where hacked, but they also added a ton of fake shit.

Why would it even be necessary to add fake shit? The Clinton email shenanigans proved that people are already dumb enough to misconstrue mundane shit as being damning material.

Or maybe this is some meta-commentary on how easy it is to fool the U.S. public vs the French public.

[araine]

Russia helping fascists and nazis everywhere lately, it is clearly part of the playbook from Putin to create as much fucked up shit as possible with fascists everywhere since he knows they will be to weak to stop his conquering of the world

[Edge-]

This opens up the big question: why not do it earlier?

Because this causes doubt, chaos, and confusion in the short term while everyone is trying to parse through it, especially if it does include a mixture of real hacked emails and fake documents thrown as well.

It casts all kinds of doubts on him because nobody can dig through to verify what's accurate and what's bullshit. Give media time with the emails and they'll be able to sort through what's real and what's not, very likely leading to similar results as what happened with Podesta - people completely lost their shit over them initially, but it very quickly became apparent that there was little to nothing in the way of "damning" information in there. If the Russians are involved with this hack, they've clearly learned timing lessons from the US election.

[Wyrt]

Something that bothers me about this is the following (please feel free to point out if my analysis is off)

-Macron said the hacks took place 2 weeks ago
-This is released less than 1.5 days before voting starts
-It is 9gb worth of emails (roughly 100,000 +/-)

Unless somehow the hackers work with a fuckton of people who:
a. have a very good understanding of french
b. know how to spot something politically sensitive

Which is something that even Russia doesn't have access to, not enough to fully understand these emails in 2 weeks

It is fair to say that the hackers didn't read everything and jump dumped it on the internet.

This opens up the big question: why not do it earlier?
The main reason to do this would be because it will mostly control news cycles and people will debate back and forth on whether or not the emails are real for a very long time (see US).
Instead they release it a day before the election and (probably) spiked it with some fake emails that will surely cause an uproar.
They will then proceed to link these mails to journalists claiming they are citizens who stumbled upon it. (Because of this don't trust anything about what is actually in the leaked emails for at least the next 5-6 hours since it is highly unlikely that any journalist came across it independantly).

However I am still failing to see the advantage of them leaking it only now?

The only way in which this makes sense is if Russia (or whoever is behing it) is actually betting on 2 horses and left some of the more (possibly personally?) incendiary material out of these likes so that they have some leverage over macron even if he does come out on top.

I don't think it matters what's in the emails since there's so much. Fake news can spread and there's no way to reliably go through so much data in a day to fact check it. It's for misinformation purposes I think, not so much for the emails themselves being damaging.

[Kiri]

Something that bothers me about this is the following (please feel free to point out if my analysis is off)

-Macron said the hacks took place 2 weeks ago
-This is released less than 1.5 days before voting starts
-It is 9gb worth of emails (roughly 100,000 +/-)

Unless somehow the hackers work with a fuckton of people who:
a. have a very good understanding of french
b. know how to spot something politically sensitive

Which is something that even Russia doesn't have access to, not enough to fully understand these emails in 2 weeks

It is fair to say that the hackers didn't read everything and jump dumped it on the internet.

This opens up the big question: why not do it earlier?
The main reason to do this would be because it will mostly control news cycles and people will debate back and forth on whether or not the emails are real for a very long time (see US).
Instead they release it a day before the election and (probably) spiked it with some fake emails that will surely cause an uproar.
They will then proceed to link these mails to journalists claiming they are citizens who stumbled upon it. (Because of this don't trust anything about what is actually in the leaked emails for at least the next 5-6 hours since it is highly unlikely that any journalist came across it independantly).

However I am still failing to see the advantage of them leaking it only now?

The only way in which this makes sense is if Russia (or whoever is behing it) is actually betting on 2 horses and left some of the more (possibly personally?) incendiary material out of these likes so that they have some leverage over macron even if he does come out on top.

It likely just means that they did not have a lot of stuff to work with that was both real and could damage Macron. Clinton had some stuff there like that whole questions thing that could definitely be seen as damaging (mostly turning Bernie supporters away from her). If you let too much time pass between leak and election, fake stuff is revealed and thrown out. But on some short notice - especially with one of the principal actors unable to speak about it properly - it is harder to do so. Remember, whoever did this is likely not trying to turn hardcore Macron supporters away, that'd be futile. But if you can convince skeptics that he is somehow 'crooked' or something, they might just throw up their hands and not vote at all - which in the current climate benefits LePen more. This is a not a move to sway voters, it is one to create uncertainty and get people not to vote at all.

[vondevon]

The release of these e-mails is questionable - right before the information black-out, which basically mean that the press won't channel it to the viewers. This will have virtually no impact on the conclusion that will be had Sunday.

I agree that the timing is questionable, but I disagree with your conclusion. Media blackout means that there is literally nothing that any "official" can do or say about it now, without violating the law.

Think about it. Macron's team can't defend themselves without violating the blackout, which would only serve to worsen public opinion against him for attempting to illegally influence the election. The media can't report on the facts of the leak, or any updates, without illegally influencing the election.

There is nothing they can do but let this simmer with voters as they head to the polls this weekend. If this is an attack, it's fucking brilliant.