Coordinated Media Warfare: France and Morocco’s Algorithmic Assault on Algeria; A Digital Propaganda Machine Spreading Lies and Manipulation to Undermine Algeria’s Sovereignty

BY: Dr. Hana Saada

Algiers, Algeria | February 27th, 2025 — The media war against Algeria has reached unprecedented levels, evolving into a sophisticated campaign of disinformation, deception, and distortion orchestrated by a network of digital mercenaries. This relentless assault, fueled by France and Morocco, is designed to manipulate public perception, discredit Algeria’s institutions, and manufacture a climate of perpetual skepticism towards the country’s official narratives. At the heart of this campaign lies a well-oiled machinery of propaganda, utilizing both traditional and digital media, with search engine algorithms weaponized to promote misleading narratives while drowning out Algerian perspectives.

 

A Calculated Psychological Operation

 

The blueprint of this warfare is clear: instill doubt in every official Algerian statement, whether issued by institutions, public figures, or independent reports. This strategy mirrors the notorious ‘Goebbels Doctrine,’ which hinges on the mass dissemination of falsehoods to entrench them as perceived truths. From fake reports to distorted statistics and manipulated social media campaigns, Algeria faces an all-out information siege aimed at swaying local, regional, and international opinion.

 

A fundamental pillar of this war involves co-opting segments of Algeria’s own intellectual elite, mobilizing them as unwitting tools to amplify deceit. A glaring example is the recent controversy surrounding Algerian Minister of Communication Mohamed Meziane’s disclosure of 9,000 journalists actively engaged in coordinated smear campaigns against Algeria. This revelation, rather than sparking outrage at the scale of the disinformation operation, was deliberately twisted by hostile factions seeking to dismiss and trivialize the minister’s statement.

 

Yet, a closer examination of the media landscape in the Mediterranean reveals the undeniable magnitude of this war. In France alone, the government-affiliated commission responsible for issuing professional journalist credentials granted 34,444 press cards in 2023, with 2,156 of them issued for the first time. Investigations conducted by French media further disclosed that, as of 2020, over 59,600 individuals were registered as journalists in the country—an industry overwhelmingly dominated by far-right, pro-Zionist elements that have persistently targeted Algeria.

 

Algorithmic Manipulation: Morocco’s Dirty Digital War

 

The strategic manipulation of search engine algorithms is another key component of this war. A simple search query related to Algeria in Arabic, English, or French on Google, Bing, or other search engines will reveal a striking trend: Moroccan news platforms and hostile foreign outlets consistently dominate the top search results, framing Algeria through a distorted, anti-Algerian lens. This is not a coincidence but rather the result of an orchestrated effort to flood the digital sphere with Moroccan-sponsored propaganda masquerading as legitimate journalism.

 

Over the past decade, Moroccan intelligence and its media apparatus have built a powerful ecosystem of misinformation, consisting of fabricated news sites, social media influencers, and foreign media partnerships. These networks operate with a singular mission: to vilify Algeria on the global stage, portraying it as unstable, economically weak, and diplomatically isolated. In reality, it is Morocco that stands isolated due to its increasingly desperate normalization with the Zionist entity, a move that has alienated large segments of the Arab and African world.

 

Western Media’s Subservience to the Rabat-Paris Axis

 

Beyond Morocco’s digital deception, the European media sphere, particularly in France, has become an active battleground where Algerian sovereignty is relentlessly undermined. French newsrooms, long accused of serving political agendas, have fallen under the sway of Moroccan influence, with entire editorial lines dictated by pro-Moroccan lobbies. The scandal surrounding Franco-Moroccan journalist Rachid M’Barki at BFM TV, who was dismissed for covertly inserting Moroccan propaganda into news segments, exemplifies the extent of this collusion. Similarly, Moroccan journalist Abdessamad Nasser, who was ousted from Al Jazeera for his blatant anti-Algerian bias, serves as further proof of the kingdom’s aggressive infiltration into global media.

 

The extent of Moroccan complicity is further illustrated by the staggering involvement of over 3,000 Moroccan journalists actively engaged in daily disinformation campaigns against Algeria. This figure is not an exaggeration but a documented reality, one that highlights the sheer scale of Rabat’s media war, which is financed by an insidious nexus of Western backers and Gulf allies with vested interests in weakening Algeria’s regional standing.

 

Hashtags, Bots, and the Social Media War Against Algeria

 

Another striking indicator of Morocco’s digital warfare is the systematic flooding of social media with anti-Algerian narratives. A closer look at trending topics across platforms such as X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and YouTube reveals a recurring pattern: Algeria-related hashtags consistently originate from Moroccan accounts, despite masquerading as organic discussions within Algeria itself. These campaigns are powered by thousands of bots and troll accounts, programmed to amplify propaganda, distort public discourse, and create an illusion of widespread anti-Algerian sentiment.

 

The Need for Counteraction: Defending Algeria’s Narrative

 

As this relentless digital war escalates, Algeria must adopt a multi-pronged strategy to combat the onslaught. First and foremost, the country must fortify its own media landscape, equipping national journalists with the tools and platforms needed to counter disinformation. Enhancing Algeria’s digital footprint through proactive engagement in online spaces is crucial in dismantling the algorithmic biases engineered against it.

 

Moreover, Algerian authorities must take decisive legal and diplomatic measures against hostile foreign media entities engaged in blatant disinformation. Stronger collaboration with international fact-checking organizations and regulatory bodies is needed to expose and neutralize Moroccan-French propaganda networks.

 

Algeria is not merely facing an information war—it is confronting a calculated psychological and geopolitical offensive designed to destabilize its institutions and weaken its influence. Recognizing the gravity of this battle is the first step; mobilizing resources to decisively dismantle this hostile media apparatus is the next. In the face of this orchestrated assault, Algeria must stand firm, unwavering in its commitment to truth, sovereignty, and national dignity.

 

Translated with Adaptation from:

https://www.echoroukonline.com/%D8%AD%D8%B1%D8%A8-%D9%81%D8%B1%D9%86%D8%B3%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%85%D8%BA%D8%B1%D8%A8%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%88%D9%82%D9%88%D8%AF%D9%87%D8%A7-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AE%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%B2%D9%85%D9%8A%D9%91%D8%A7

 

 

 

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The platform’s excellence was notably recognized with the prestigious President of the Republic’s Award for Professional Journalist in the Electronic Press category on October 22, 2022. This accolade underscores Dzair Tube’s steadfast commitment to the highest journalistic standards.

 

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Awarded the Media Leadership Award by the Minister of Communication, Mohamed Laâgab, Dzair Tube continues to shape the Algerian digital media landscape, maintaining its position of influence and impact. Additionally, Dzair Tube’s prominence in Algeria’s media scene was celebrated at the ninth edition of the “Hilals of the Television” competition, solidifying its status as a media leader.

 

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