In the lead-up to and during Romania’s 2024 presidential election, there was a significant wave of hybrid warfare activities primarily through disinformation and misinformation campaigns. These hostile information operations aimed to polarize society and disrupt electoral integrity by spreading false narratives across social media platforms and other digital channels. The misinformation was weaponized to exploit ethnic divides, political fault lines, and societal vulnerabilities. The campaigns also leveraged misinformation to question election legitimacy and amplify distrust in democratic institutions. Observers note that the coordinated disinformation efforts were part of a broader pattern of asymmetric hybrid warfare targeting Romania, reflecting broader regional threats. This case highlights the challenges democratic societies face in countering sophisticated hybrid tactics that blur the lines between genuine political discourse and hostile interference. Experts emphasize that remedies will require more than just debunking misinformation but also demand enhanced resilience and media literacy among the population.
Category: Cyber & Information Warfare
Subcategory: Information Operations
Country: Romania
Source report: www.friendsofeurope.org/insights/…
