elections

France accuses Russia of cyberattacks on Olympic and election targets

France has publicly accused Russia’s military intelligence agency of launching cyberattacks against key French institutions, including the 2017 presidential campaign of Emmanuel Macron and organisations tied to the Paris 2024 Olympics.

The allegations were presented by Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot at the UN Security Council, where he condemned the attacks as violations of international norms. French authorities linked the operations to APT28, a well-known Russian hacking group connected to the GRU.

The group also allegedly orchestrated the 2015 cyberattack on TV5 Monde and attempted to manipulate voters during the 2017 French election by leaking thousands of campaign documents. A rise in attacks has been noted ahead of major events like the Olympics and future elections.

France’s national cybersecurity agency recorded a 15% increase in Russia-linked attacks in 2024, targeting ministries, defence firms, and cultural venues. French officials warn the hacks aim to destabilise society and erode public trust.

France plans closer cooperation with Poland and pledged to counter Russia’s cyber operations with all available means.

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Canada warns of foreign election interference

Canada’s intelligence agency has warned that China and India are highly likely to interfere in the country’s general election on 28 April, with Russia and Pakistan also having the potential to do so.

The Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) stated that while previous interference attempts in the 2019 and 2021 elections did not alter the results, the country had been slow to respond at the time. Both China and India have denied previous allegations of meddling in Canada’s internal affairs.

Vanessa Lloyd, CSIS’s deputy director of operations, said hostile states are increasingly using AI to influence elections, with China being particularly likely to exploit such tools.

The warning comes amid tense diplomatic relations between Canada and Beijing, following China’s recent tariffs on $2.6 billion worth of Canadian agricultural products and Ottawa’s strong condemnation of China’s execution of four Canadian citizens on drug charges.

India has also been under scrutiny, with Canada expelling six Indian diplomats last year over allegations of involvement in a plot against Sikh separatists.

Lloyd stated that India has both the intent and capability to interfere in Canadian politics and communities, though the Indian diplomatic mission in Ottawa has yet to comment.

She added that while it is difficult to directly link foreign interference with election outcomes, such activities undermine public trust in Canada’s democratic institutions.

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Musk’s X wins court motion to remove judge in German election data case

Elon Musk-owned social media platform X has succeeded in removing a judge from a German court case concerning demands for real-time election data.

The case, brought by activist groups Democracy Reporting International and the Society for Civil Rights, aimed to secure immediate access to data from the February 23 German election to monitor misinformation.

Although a Berlin court initially supported the activists’ request, X filed a motion arguing the judge had shown bias by interacting with the plaintiffs’ social media posts. The court approved the motion, though similar claims against two other judges were dismissed.

The ruling means that the activists will not receive the requested data within their critical timeframe. A hearing on the matter is set for February 27, but any ruling will come too late to influence their election monitoring efforts in Germany.

However, the decision could establish an important precedent for future transparency cases involving social media platforms. The activists had argued that while some election data is technically accessible, it is not realistically obtainable without direct access from X.

X has also announced plans to sue the German government over what it calls excessive user data requests, claiming these demands violate privacy and freedom of expression.

The German digital affairs ministry acknowledged X’s public statements but confirmed that no formal lawsuits had been filed yet. The escalating legal dispute highlights growing tensions between Musk and German authorities, particularly as the country prepares for key elections amid concerns over misinformation.

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Rising foreign cyber threats test Philippine security

The Philippines has reported attempts by foreign actors to infiltrate government intelligence systems, though no breaches have occurred, according to Cyber Minister Ivan Uy.

Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs), often linked to state-backed groups, have persistently targeted the nation but failed to compromise its cybersecurity defences.

Uy highlighted that some threats, described as ‘sleepers’, had been embedded in systems before being uncovered through government cybersecurity measures. He expressed concerns about such threats operating undetected for extended periods.

Efforts to trace the origins of these attacks are challenging, as hackers often leave misleading evidence. Diplomatic cooperation and intelligence sharing with the military and international allies have become key tools in countering these threats.

Last year, the government successfully thwarted cyberattacks allegedly originating in China, including attempts to breach systems related to maritime security. Uy noted that global cyber conflicts resemble a ‘non-kinetic World War III’, with nations and organisations exploiting digital vulnerabilities for strategic or financial gain.

In addition to cyberattacks, the Philippines is grappling with rising misinformation, deepfakes, and ‘fake news media outlets’ ahead of its mid-term elections in May.

The ministry has deployed tools to counter these risks, emphasising their potential to harm democracies reliant on informed public opinion during elections.

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German court orders X to share election misinformation data

A German court has ruled that Elon Musk’s social media platform X must provide researchers with data to track the spread of misinformation ahead of the country’s national election on 23 February. The Berlin district court’s decision follows a legal challenge by civil rights groups, who argued that the platform had a duty under European law to make election-related engagement data more accessible.

The German ruling obliges X to disclose information such as post reach, shares, and likes, allowing researchers to monitor how misleading narratives circulate online. The court emphasised that immediate access to the data was crucial, as delays could undermine efforts to track election-related disinformation in real time. The company, which had failed to respond to a previous request for information, was also ordered to cover the €6,000 legal costs.

The case was brought forward by the German Society for Civil Rights (GFF) and Democracy Reporting International, who hailed the verdict as a major win for democratic integrity. Concerns over misinformation on X have intensified, particularly following Musk’s public endorsement of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), currently polling in second place. In January, Musk posted that ‘only the AfD can save Germany,’ sparking further scrutiny over the platform’s role in political discourse.

X has yet to respond to the ruling. The decision could set a precedent for how social media companies handle election-related transparency, particularly within the European Union’s regulatory framework.

EU to test social media safeguards ahead of German elections

The European Commission has invited major social media platforms, including Facebook, TikTok, and X, to participate in a “stress test” on 31 January to assess their efforts in combating disinformation ahead of Germany‘s election next month. The test is part of the Digital Services Act (DSA), which requires companies to implement measures mitigating risks on their platforms. Similar tests were successfully conducted for the European Parliament elections last year.

EU spokesperson Thomas Regnier explained that the exercise would involve various scenarios to evaluate how platforms respond to potential challenges under the DSA. Senior compliance officers and specialists from companies such as Microsoft, LinkedIn, Google, Snap, and Meta have been invited to collaborate with German authorities in the closed-door session.

TikTok has confirmed its participation, while other platforms have yet to comment. The initiative underscores the European Union‘s commitment to ensuring transparency and accountability from tech giants in safeguarding democratic processes during elections.

Experts at IGF 2024 address the dual role of AI in elections, emphasising empowerment and challenges

At IGF 2024, panellists explored AI’s role in elections, its potential for both empowerment and disruption, and the challenges it poses to democratic processes. Moderator Tapani Tarvainen led the discussion with contributions from Ayobangira Safari Nshuti, Roxana Radu, Babu Ram Aryal, and other experts.

Speakers noted that AI had been primarily used for self-promotion in campaigns, helping smaller candidates compete with limited resources. Roxana Radu highlighted AI’s positive role in voter outreach in India but warned of risks such as disinformation and public opinion manipulation. Ayobangira Safari Nshuti pointed to algorithmic biases and transparency issues in platforms as critical concerns, emphasising a recent case in Romania where AI-enabled manipulation caused election disruption.

Accountability of social media platforms became a focal point. Platforms increasingly rely on AI for content moderation, but their effectiveness in languages with limited online presence remains inadequate. Babu Ram Aryal stressed the need for stronger oversight, particularly in multilingual nations, while Dennis Redeker underscored the challenges of balancing regulation with free speech.

Panellists called for holistic solutions to safeguard democracy. Suggestions included enhancing platform transparency, implementing robust digital literacy programmes, and addressing social factors like poverty that exacerbate misinformation. Nana, an AI ethics specialist, advocated for proactive governance to adapt electoral institutions to technological realities.

The session concluded with a recognition that AI’s role in elections will continue to evolve. Panellists urged collaborative efforts between governments, civil society, and technology companies to ensure election integrity and maintain public trust in democratic systems.

Safeguarding democracy: Strategies to combat disinformation in electoral contexts

Disinformation during elections is a growing threat to democracy and human rights, according to a global panel of experts who convened at the Internet Governance Forum 2024 in Riyadh to discuss this issue. Giovanni Zagni, director of Pagella Politica and Facta.news, highlighted the European Union’s approach with its voluntary Code of Practice on Disinformation, which has 34 signatories, including major tech platforms.

The collaborative strategy contrasts with stricter regulatory models, raising questions about the balance between platform accountability and government intervention. Juliano Cappi from the Brazilian Internet Steering Committee underscored the importance of digital sovereignty and public infrastructure, introducing concepts like ‘systemic risk’ and ‘duty of care’ in platform regulation.

Collaboration among stakeholders was a recurring theme, with experts stressing the need for partnerships between fact-checkers, tech companies, and civil society organisations. Nazar Nicholas Kirama, president of the Internet Society Tanzania (ISOC Tanzania) called for platforms to adopt transparent algorithms and assume greater accountability, comparing their influence to that of electoral commissions.

However, Cappi warned about the risks of bias in platforms’ business models and advocated for a ‘follow the money’ approach to trace disinformation campaigns. Aiesha Adnan, co-founder of the ‘Women in Tech Maldives’ and Poncelet Ileleji from the Information Technology Association of the Gambia emphasised media literacy and grassroots empowerment as crucial tools, calling for initiatives like UNESCO-backed fact-checking and community radio programs to counter misinformation.

The tension between regulation and free speech was a central point of debate. While some participants, like Zagni, noted the challenge of addressing disinformation without infringing on freedoms, others warned against government overreach.

Adnan highlighted smaller nations’ unique challenges, urging for culturally sensitive interventions and localised strategies. The session closed with a call for global cooperation and continued dialogue to safeguard democratic processes while respecting diverse regional contexts and fundamental rights.

All transcripts from the Internet Governance Forum sessions can be found on dig.watch.

EU orders TikTok to freeze election-related data in Romania

The European Union has directed TikTok to retain data related to Romania’s elections under the Digital Services Act, citing concerns over foreign interference. The move follows pro-Russia ultranationalist Calin Georgescu’s unexpected success in the presidential race’s first round, raising alarm about coordinated social media promotion.

Declassified documents revealed TikTok’s role in amplifying Georgescu’s profile via coordinated accounts and paid algorithms, despite his claim of no campaign spending. Romania‘s security agencies have flagged these efforts as ‘hybrid Russian attacks,’ accusations Russia denies.

TikTok stated its cooperation with the EU in addressing concerns and pledged to establish facts amid allegations. Romania’s runoff presidential vote is seen as pivotal for the country’s EU alignment.

Tensions rise over alleged election interference in Romania

Romania has been subjected to ‘aggressive hybrid Russian attacks’ during a series of recent elections, according to declassified documents from the country’s security council. The revelations come ahead of a presidential runoff between pro-Russian far-right candidate Calin Georgescu and pro-European centrist Elena Lasconi. Georgescu’s unexpected rise, attributed in part to coordinated promotion on TikTok, has raised alarms in this European Union and NATO member state.

Romanian intelligence reported over 85,000 cyber attacks exploiting vulnerabilities, including the publication of election website access data on Russian cybercrime platforms. The attacks persisted on election day and beyond, with officials concluding they stemmed from resources typical of a state actor. Russia has denied any involvement in the election.

If Georgescu wins, his anti-NATO stance and opposition to aiding Ukraine could isolate Romania from Western allies, marking a significant geopolitical shift. The alleged cyber campaigns have intensified concerns about election integrity in the region, drawing attention to the role of foreign interference in shaping democratic outcomes.