Head of Moldova's General Police Inspectorate says each online transaction leaves traces, citizens should not believe manipulations remain hidden

The head of the General Police Inspectorate (IGP), Viorel Cernauteanu, emphasizes that attempts of corruption and electoral manipulation in Moldova are carefully documented, including the ones conducted online. "If anyone thinks that a transaction made in the virtual environment cannot be documented, they are sorely mistaken, as each transaction leaves traces and can be identified," said the official in an exclusive interview with MOLDPRES.

According to Cernauteanu, the stakes for those trying to influence the electoral process are not lower than at the presidential elections in 2024. While voters’ corruption stays present, disinformation has become the main instrument used for manipulation. Among the propagated falsehoods, there are rumors about war, citizens’ conscription or trafficking of minors for organ harvesting.

The police chief noted that most of these false materials were distributed on TikTok, where over 80 per cent of the content is generated with the help of artificial intelligence. The platform is followed by Telegram and Facebook.

"We have recently established a focal point with TikTok, ensuring direct contact with the police for a faster response. With Facebook, we work through Meta, but the process is more cumbersome," explained Cernăuțeanu.

He stressed that prompt response was crucial.

"These videos accumulate hundreds of thousands of views in record time, and intervention must occur immediately, not after days or weeks."

The official noted that the National Police had recently launched the campaign, Don't Play with Your Vote, or You'll Lose Everything, which includes various information and communication activities through messages and video spots.

"Our priority is to communicate with citizens, not to sanction. For this reason, we have launched this extensive campaign, through which we want to reach the eyes and ears of as many citizens as possible. Where prevention and communication are not understood, we will proceed to the next step – sanctioning and documentation, whether contraventional or criminal," the IPG head underlined.

During the campaign, several audio messages will be broadcast in crowded areas, informative leaflets will be distributed, including in rural localities – at city halls, post offices, or other institutions. At the same time, goods inscribed with this message will be distributed, which will also be found on some payment invoices. In this way, citizens will be warned about the risks of electoral corruption and the consequences they face if they sell their vote.