France Televisions Cancels Contract With Israeli Firm Linked to Netanyahu Over Viewer Data Access Concerns
An Israeli data company whose co-owner has close ties to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was set to gain access to millions of viewers' data through France's public broadcaster France Televisions, according to a report by the French investigative outlet Mediapart.
The broadcaster's management pushed through the appointment of Terrific to collect audience data for France 2's flagship political program "L'Heure de Vérité" (The Moment of Truth), Mediapart reported. France Televisions is France's most-watched television group, with its channels together accounting for 29.4% of TV viewing in 2025, according to its annual results [1].
France Televisions scrapped plans to use Terrific to develop an interactive tool for a political program after internal concerns were raised over the handling of viewers' personal data. The broadcaster's management initially pushed through with the agreement with the company to collect audience data for the program, according to Mediapart. The TV network swiftly canceled the contract after Mediapart informed France Televisions it would publish its findings about the deal [3].
Terrific's Owners and Netanyahu Ties
Founded in 2021, Terrific describes itself as a marketing and audience measurement agency. Terrific's founder, Israel Grintz, also heads NEAIG, a start-up specializing in political marketing, according to the Israeli newspaper Haaretz.
Middle East Eye also reported that Natan Eshel also serves as Terrific's other shareholder. Eshel served as Netanyahu's chief of staff between 2010 and 2012 and has remained a close adviser to the Israeli prime minister and his wife Sara [1].
Internal Warnings and Data Security Concerns
Employees feared that giving the Israeli company access to sensitive data ahead of the 2027 presidential and legislative elections would threaten France's security, according to Mediapart.
"Numerous warnings were issued to several of the company's executives very early on. Each time, the response was the same: 'Management wants to see this project through, we have to go ahead, it comes from higher up'," the outlet reported [1].
According to Mediapart, Terrific's methods of aggregating data raised fears of foreign interference. The company combines data from tracking tools embedded in applications it designs with clients.
Prior Allegations of Israeli Interference in French Elections
Earlier this year, French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said authorities would take legal action after revelations that an Israeli firm called BlackCore had run a disinformation campaign against left-leaning candidates during municipal elections in March, according to officials [4].
Anne-Sophie Dhiver, deputy head of Viginum, France's agency for combating online disinformation, told parliament that "a private company based in Israel that specializes in selling online destabilization services" had attacked candidates who opposed Israel's genocide in Gaza and apartheid in the occupied West Bank. Dhiver said the agency could not identify who sponsored the campaign [4].
The Israeli government has also drawn closer in recent years to National Rally – France's main far-right party – which leads opinion polls, the report stated [1].
References
- France TV planned to give Israeli firm linked to Netanyahu access to millions of viewers' data. https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/france-televisions-planned-give-israeli-firm-linked-netanyahu-access-millions-viewers-data
- French public broadcaster drops plan to use Israeli firm for .... https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/french-public-broadcaster-drops-plan-to-use-israeli-firm-for-political-program-report/4078439
- France TV planned to give Israeli firm linked to Netanyahu .... https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/france-televisions-planned-give-israeli-firm-linked-netanyahu-access-millions-viewers-data
- Wired for War: New revelations expose Israeli cyber-spooks. https://rt.com/news/641451-israeli-firm-nyc-scotland-election-meddling/
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