Moldovan Central Electoral Commission's reaction to distribution of falsified video involving CEC president

Moldova’s Central Electoral Commission (CEC) has expressed deep concern about the recent online distribution of a falsified video in which CEC President Angelica Caraman appears making statements that were never actually made. According to the CEC, this material has previously been distributed.

The Commission notes that this video was created by use of artificial intelligence with the aim of undermining public trust in democratic institutions, manipulating public opinion and affecting the integrity of the electoral process.

“This type of manipulative content is part of a coordinated disinformation campaign targeting key state institutions in the electoral context. Such actions not only distort reality, but pose a direct threat to the democratic security of Moldova,” reads the CEC's communiqué.

The Commission has notified the appropriate state institutions and investigations are underway, in order to identify the authors, distribution sources and any external connections involved in generating these materials.

At the same time, the electoral authority is working with national and international partners, in order to monitor and neutralize informational hybrid threats.

“We also remind that knowingly disseminating false information in the electoral context is a crime and is punishable under the current legislation. The integrity of the electoral process is a collective responsibility. It is essential that the society, the press and institutions act in solidarity to reject manipulation attempts and defend the foundations of our democracy,” the CEC communiqué also reads.