Romania strengthens its defenses against disinformation and fake news, learning lessons from Moldova. The neighboring country plans to establish a Center for Combating Disinformation to counter pro-Russian propaganda online. The journalist Cristi Popovici prepared the exclusive report to understand how such an institution operates.
More than ever, Romania faced massive disinformation campaigns this year, many attributed to the Russian Federation, aimed at destabilizing society. Authorities responded late, and the Constitutional Court’s annulment of the presidential elections sent shockwaves across the country.
”We are in a hybrid war, where we have all become frontline soldiers. Until now, we looked at our Moldovan neighbors and believed nothing like this could ever happen to us,” the report states.
Thousands of anti-European and pro-Russian messages spread daily on Moldova’s social networks. At the Strategic Communication and Disinformation Combating Center, or STRATCOM, a small team monitors these activities.
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Due to security reasons, the press cannot access Chisinau’s Disinformation Combating Center. Currently, 25 IT specialists, experts from various fields, and online communication specialists work there.
Petru Macovei, a well-known journalist and human rights activist in Moldova, is part of this institute, which acts as an immune system against disinformation. Information collected by him and several volunteers reaches the Center’s experts, who determine how to combat fake news and propaganda.
”Ten thousand national police uniforms and 10,000 Moldovan army uniforms were allegedly sent to Romania,” declared pro-Russian MP Marina Tauber. ”Statements like these, which panic parts of society, must be neutralized. That is exactly what this Center focuses on,” explained Petru Macovei, a member of Moldova’s Center for Combating Disinformation.
Fake news and pro-Russian propaganda spread widely on social networks. Center members verify this content and send reports to institutions such as the Presidency, Government, and Secret Services. They also provide recommendations for countering falsehoods.
”This center coordinates efforts to combat hybrid aggression. It develops methodologies to identify which messages are spreading, their impact on citizens, and how to protect ourselves,” said Aurelian Pasa, a member of Moldova’s Center for Combating Disinformation.
Romania’s Intelligence Service found that a network of 25,000 TikTok accounts was directly linked to Calin Georgescu’s campaign, a candidate who seemingly appeared out of nowhere and supports Vladimir Putin. Surprisingly, he won the first round of elections.
”Each county has a dedicated Telegram group that provides instructions and pays activists to comment and influence campaigns. Ilan Sor leads this effort, employing Romanian speakers housed in a command center in Russia,” stated Aurelian Pasa.
Ilan Sor, a pro-Russian oligarch, fled to Moscow after receiving a 15-year prison sentence for fraud and money laundering in Moldova. Romania’s disinformation strategy mirrors tactics applied to destabilize Moldova and Georgia. The main channels for pro-Russian propaganda remain TikTok and Telegram, owned by China and Russia.
Chisinau’s Center for Combating Disinformation was created a year ago at President Maia Sandu’s initiative. It is modeled after institutions in Baltic and Nordic countries.
”Seeing how these disinformation methods work, spreading at lightning speed and causing so much damage, all countries will need such centers,” said Maia Sandu.
Government sources indicated that Bucharest authorities are drafting legislation inspired by French regulations.
”A technical discussion is underway to ensure Romania has an authority capable of addressing disinformation, preventing institutions from shifting blame, and avoiding abnormal situations like the presidential election annulment,” stated Bogdan Ivan, Minister of Digitalization.
Recently, Bulgarian cybersecurity experts revealed that Russia spent 69 million euros to finance large-scale propaganda and interference campaigns in Romania and Bulgaria.