Moldova is facing intense disinformation driven by artificial intelligence ahead of a crucial parliamentary election that could influence its alignment with the European Union versus Moscow. Multiple monitoring groups have reported coordinated propaganda campaigns, mainly attributed to Russia, aimed at undermining the ruling pro-European Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS). These campaigns employ AI to create spoof websites resembling legitimate media, and engage “engagement farms” in Africa to spread misleading narratives against PAS and the EU.
Moldovan President Maia Sandu has emphasized the significance of the upcoming vote, labeling it potentially the “most consequential” in the nation’s history, as it could determine its democratic stability and relationship with Russia. Authorities have recently arrested 74 individuals as part of investigations into alleged Russia-backed efforts to incite unrest.
A report from Reset Tech revealed that an AI-generated platform, Restmedia, poses as an investigative outlet while disseminating Kremlin-aligned propaganda, particularly targeting Sandu and PAS. This platform’s infrastructure has been linked to Russia, underscoring the sophistication of current disinformation strategies.
The report highlights the use of fake information across various social media platforms, including TikTok and Facebook, where 100 fake accounts were found spreading coordinated anti-PAS content resulting in millions of views. Moldovan authorities have established a center to combat disinformation and conducted raids linked to illegal campaign financing and voter corruption, notably associated with pro-Russian oligarch Ilan Shor.
The overarching goal of these campaigns appears to be destabilizing Moldova’s path toward EU integration, manipulating public perception through cleverly crafted disinformation that erodes trust in legitimate information sources.
