UK withholds information on Israeli firm accused of targeting Scottish first minister in elections

UK withholds information on Israeli firm accused of targeting Scottish first minister in elections Submitted by Imran Mulla on Thu, 08/13/2026 - 11:59 The British government refused an FOI request, saying releasing documents may 'prejudice relations between the United Kingdom and any other state' Britain's Prime Minister Andy Burnham meets Scottish National Party (SNP) First Minister John Swinney in Glasgow, 23 July 2026 (AFP) Off The British government has refused to publish any information it holds on an Israeli firm suspected of interfering in the Scottish parliament elections, on the grounds that doing so may "prejudice relations between the United Kingdom and any other state". In June, the French disinformation watchdog Viginum accused Israeli cyber firm BlackCore of meddling in elections in New York City and Scotland , as well as in France ’s local elections. Viginum chief Marc-Antoine Brillant said investigations had led the watchdog to suspect BlackCore of being "used to carry out foreign digital interference operations in other countries or regions, such as Angola, Togo, the elections in Scotland, and the 2025 ​municipal election in New York".