What the hack? Europeans face growing psyops and cyberattacks

So this time, it's Iran, not Russia? France - reportedly acting on US intelligence - summoning Tehran’s ambassador over last month’s hacking of hundreds of supermarket refrigerators that overheated, 15 of which even caught fire. Why now at a time when Iran’s trying to break its international isolation?

We’ll ask about France’s role in the region, particularly in defending Gulf states and about all the other hacks and bomb threats that have rattled Europe in recent weeks, this just as the continent's representatives vye for a seat at the table of US-brokered Russia-Ukraine discussions in Abu Dhabi. With Europe’s so-called coalition of the willing at the same time conducting military drills in Poland, we’ll ask if a force led by France and the UK can really keep the peace in an eventual deal or further deter Russia.

For now though, Europeans are told they must brace for more. The UK defence secretary’s even launched a ‘Be Prepared’ campaign to encourage citizens to keep canned goods, pet food, bottled water, medical supplies and even spare cash in case of a major emergency. Overkill… some French presidential canddiates even speak of fearmongering or as the old saying goes, should we hope for the best and plan for the worst?

Produced by François Picard, Rebecca Gnignati, Juliette Laffont, Ilayda Habip, Charles Wente.

Our guests

• Michel YAKOVLEFF Professor, Sciences Po; Former Vice Chief of Staff, SHAPE NATO

• Borzou DARAGAHI Independent journalist

• Samantha DE BENDERN Associate Fellow, Russia & Eurasia Program, Chatham House

• Jérôme BARBIER Tech geopolitics consultant; Former Head of Cybersecurity, Paris Peace Forum