In an interview with the Austrian magazine JETZT, Mateusz spoke about disinformation around the mass protests in France. The headline sums up his view: “Protest ist ein demokratisches Recht. Aber auch eine Chance für feindliche Kräfte” (“Protest is a democratic right. But also an opportunity for hostile actors”).

The protests began in mid-September 2026, the movement spread across France. From mid-October it merged with protests against the cost of living. Mateusz explains why such moments are attractive to hostile actors. Strong emotions, fast-moving events, and a lack of verified information create ideal conditions for disinformation. Foreign campaigns amplify existing ones, deepen polarisation, and try to discredit both the protesters and the state. The answer is not to restrict the right to protest but to strengthen societies’ resilience: quick and transparent communication by the authorities, fact-checking, and media literacy, especially among young people.

Link to the article: https://www.jetzt.at/artikel/sT3kUELq-aGBFglZ7-5262f