# UK Government Won’t Release Files on Israeli Firm ‘Meddling’ in Election *Canonical page:* https://truthscore.com/source/823898b6 *Machine twins:* https://truthscore.com/source/823898b6.md · JSON at https://truthscore.com/api/v1 Publisher: Novara Media · published 2026-08-12 · read 2026-09-11 Original: https://novaramedia.com/2026/08/12/uk-government-wont-release-files-on-israeli-firm-meddling-in-election/ *A source is testimony, not proof. The document itself is never republished here.* ## Who is named (10) - [The National](https://truthscore.com/entity/02983ac4) - [French authorities](https://truthscore.com/entity/221784f7) - [Scottish government](https://truthscore.com/entity/2e22aa1e) - [British government](https://truthscore.com/entity/37ac982a) - [John Webster](https://truthscore.com/entity/69e6165c) - [Joshua Carroll](https://truthscore.com/entity/8528c30e) - [Viginum](https://truthscore.com/entity/a74d678a) - [UK Cabinet Office](https://truthscore.com/entity/b630bdc0) - [BlackCore](https://truthscore.com/entity/d7ee8eb0) - [John Swinney](https://truthscore.com/entity/d8910cbb) ## What it added - [The British government has refused to release any files about alleged meddling by BlackCore in the Scottish elections earlier this year.](https://truthscore.com/claim/eb113943) > The British government has refused to release any files about alleged meddling by an Israeli firm in elections in Scotland earlier this year. - [BlackCore was accused by French authorities in June of meddling in elections in Scotland, France, New York, Angola and Togo after a probe uncovered the use of…](https://truthscore.com/claim/5f98e17d) > A little-known firm named BlackCore was accused by French authorities in June of meddling in elections in Scotland, France, New York, Angola and Togo after a probe uncovered the use of fake social media accounts. - [BlackCore coordinated hundreds of accounts to post negative comments about John Swinney during his bid for re-election, which was successful.](https://truthscore.com/claim/fe3ec415) > Viginum, a French government agency that fights foreign digital interference, said BlackCore had coordinated hundreds of accounts to post negative comments about Scottish first minister John Swinney during his bid for re-election, which was nonetheless successful. - [The agency launched an investigation after evidence suggested BlackCore may have tried to smear three candidates from the leftwing France Unbowed party during…](https://truthscore.com/claim/3f40591e) > The agency launched an investigation after evidence suggested BlackCore may have tried to smear three candidates from the leftwing France Unbowed party during municipal elections in March, Reuters reported. - [The UK Cabinet Office rejected the National newspaper's request for files relating to the allegations under FOI rules.](https://truthscore.com/claim/8cb2f52c) > After the National newspaper asked for files relating to the allegations under freedom of information (FOI) rules, the UK Cabinet Office rejected the request to “avoid giving offence to other nations and retain the trust of our international partners”. - [Doing so could damage national security.](https://truthscore.com/claim/5bfceb70) > It also said doing so could damage national security. - [The balance of the public interest favours withholding the information.](https://truthscore.com/claim/eb486646) > “Taking into account all the circumstances of this case, we have determined that the balance of the public interest favours withholding this information,” it said. - [An exemption under FOI rules allows for information to be withheld if it would prejudice relations between the United Kingdom and any other state.](https://truthscore.com/claim/b95399f4) > An exemption under FOI rules allows for information to be withheld if it would “prejudice relations between the United Kingdom and any other state”. - [Scotland’s government released some files in response to an identical request made by the National, while withholding others on national security grounds.](https://truthscore.com/claim/e1503a1d) > Scotland’s government, however, did release some files in response to an identical request made by the National, while withholding others on national security grounds. - [The files suggest that John Swinney and other government figures were unaware of the allegations about BlackCore until they saw them in the media.](https://truthscore.com/claim/f555ef6a) > The files suggest that Swinney and other government figures were unaware of the allegations about BlackCore until they saw them in the media. - [One email between two redacted addresses said "You might not have seen this."](https://truthscore.com/claim/dad17ee7) > “You might not have seen this,” one email between two redacted addresses said. - [John Webster replied that he has shared the information with First Minister John Swinney, anticipating that Swinney will want to understand more about the…](https://truthscore.com/claim/ed0e1bba) > John Webster, the principal private secretary to the first minister, was copied in. He replied: “I have shared this with FM [Swinney] – anticipating that he will want to understand more about this report… and what actions remedial and future / proactive are being taken.” - [The allegations of BlackCore meddling represent a potentially extremely serious attack on Scotland’s democracy.](https://truthscore.com/claim/2946d5af) > Scottish Greens co-leader Gillian Mackay told the National: “These allegations of meddling in elections from BlackCore represent a potentially extremely serious attack on Scotland’s democracy. - [BlackCore deleted its online presence after being contacted by Reuters in June and has not made any public statements about the allegations.](https://truthscore.com/claim/241781f9) > BlackCore deleted its online presence after being contacted by Reuters in June, and has not made any public statements about the allegations. - [Joshua Carroll is a writer and journalist.](https://truthscore.com/claim/2d85288a) > Joshua Carroll is a writer and journalist. ## Questions it bears on - [What actions have governments taken in response to the BlackCore allegations?](https://truthscore.com/question/02b7497f) ## What it cost Reading this document into the graph cost <$0.01.