Romania Grapples with Escalating Disinformation Campaigns Amidst Regional Tensions
Bucharest, Romania – The Romanian government is facing a surge in disinformation campaigns spreading across social media platforms, exploiting anxieties surrounding the ongoing war in Ukraine and aiming to manipulate public opinion. The Ministry of Interior (MAI) and the Ministry of National Defense (MApN) have issued repeated warnings, urging citizens to remain vigilant and rely on official sources for information. These campaigns, marked by increasingly sophisticated tactics, leverage fabricated documents, manipulated videos, and emotionally charged narratives to sow discord and undermine trust in state institutions.
The latest wave of disinformation focuses on themes of heightened security risks, including false reports about imminent border closures and the imposition of martial law. These narratives play on existing public concerns regarding the war in Ukraine and its potential spillover effects, fostering an environment of fear and uncertainty. The MAI has categorically denied these claims, emphasizing the importance of verifying information before sharing it online. This wave follows a pattern of escalating disinformation observed since the cancelled presidential elections in December 2024, suggesting a deliberate and sustained effort to destabilize public discourse.
Further amplifying public anxieties, forged documents have circulated online, purportedly recalling Romanian citizens living abroad for compulsory military service. These documents, referencing non-existent institutions like the "Recruitment Directorate," have been accompanied by videos depicting military equipment ostensibly moving through Romania. The MApN swiftly debunked these claims, highlighting the suspension of compulsory military service since 2007 and confirming the fabricated nature of the documents and the identities of the alleged signatories. This incident exemplifies the increasingly sophisticated methods employed by disinformation actors, utilizing forged official documents to lend credibility to their false narratives.
The proliferation of these campaigns has prompted Romanian authorities to take decisive action. State institutions are actively collaborating with judicial authorities to identify and prosecute those responsible for disseminating false information. Under Romanian law, the intentional spread of fake news carries a penalty of up to five years imprisonment. This commitment to legal action underscores the government’s resolve to combat disinformation and hold perpetrators accountable.
The National Directorate for Cyber Security (DNSC) has warned of the growing complexity and sophistication of cyberattacks, many of which are now intertwined with disinformation campaigns. These attacks often combine misinformation with phishing techniques, targeting sensitive personal information. A recent example involved the compromise of a popular Facebook page with millions of followers. Instead of posting new content, the attackers leveraged the page’s established reach to disseminate sponsored advertisements in multiple European languages, redirecting users to websites peddling false information about Romanian elections and fraudulent investment schemes. This case illustrates how disinformation actors exploit existing social media infrastructures and large online communities to amplify their reach and manipulate user behavior.
The ongoing disinformation campaigns represent a significant challenge to Romania’s information landscape and social cohesion. The exploitation of public anxieties related to regional instability and the use of increasingly sophisticated tactics, including forged documents and compromised social media accounts, underscore the evolving nature of this threat. The Romanian government’s commitment to combating disinformation through legal action, public awareness campaigns, and cooperation with judicial authorities signals a determined effort to safeguard the integrity of its information ecosystem. However, given the persistent and evolving nature of these campaigns, a sustained, multifaceted approach involving public education, media literacy initiatives, and enhanced cybersecurity measures will be crucial to effectively counter this growing threat to democratic discourse and public trust.