Chișinău, August 26, 2025, As Moldova braces for crucial parliamentary elections this fall, civil society, journalists, and communicators gathered at Mediacor for a capacity-building event focused on one of the country’s most pressing challenges: disinformation in an electoral context. The event was organised by the Independent Countering Disinformation Centre (ICDC) as part of its ongoing efforts to strengthen Moldova’s resilience against malign influence and electoral manipulation.

A guest from the frontline

The keynote speaker was Vlad Gheorghe, the chief strategist of Romania’s 2025 presidential campaign that propelled pro-European candidate Nicușor Dan to victory. A lawyer, civic activist, and former MEP, Gheorghe brought first-hand insights from an electoral race in Romania marked by coordinated propaganda, fake news, and large-scale digital attacks.

“Disinformation is an equally big problem in both countries,” Gheorghe warned. “It is essential to show the truth and teach people how to distinguish between reality and lies. That is why an event dedicated to disinformation is crucial, especially now, before elections that will decide the future of our countries.”

Campaign lessons under fire

The opening session, “From Underdog to Winner – How Nicușor Dan’s Campaign Beat the Odds”, offered a case study in electioneering under relentless manipulation. Gheorghe detailed tactics such as:

• Tens of thousands of fake TikTok accounts,
• Fabricated polls designed to shift public perception,
• Doctored images targeting candidates’ reputations,
• Even betting platforms manipulated to influence voter psychology.

These experiences, he argued, carry urgent lessons for Moldova, where similar patterns of information warfare are already visible.

Training reflexes, not just awareness

The event’s interactive component proved equally valuable. In the “Spot the Narrative Trap” exercise, participants dissected ordinary headlines and viral posts to reveal hidden manipulation strategies—polarization, victimization, and fearmongering among them.

Another simulation, “Election Under Fire – Moldova 2025”, plunged attendees into a high-pressure election day scenario riddled with deepfakes, forged documents, bot campaigns, and cyberattacks. Playing roles of journalists, fact-checkers, and campaign teams, participants grappled with the central dilemma: how to respond quickly without sacrificing credibility.

From these exercises, three core lessons emerged for Moldova:

1. Speed of reaction is critical, but must be balanced with verification.
2. Collaboration across media, civil society, and campaign teams is the only way to maintain credibility.
3. Preparation in advance is just as important as real-time reaction.

A roadmap for Moldova

The event brought together 60 participants from civil society, media, and international organizations, reflecting the growing demand for practical tools to counter disinformation.

Gheorghe emphasized that preparedness and rapid response can decide whether disinformation spirals out of control or is contained. Looking ahead, participants discussed creating a joint Romanian–Moldovan manual on countering disinformation and deepfakes—an initiative that could harmonize response strategies and foster cross-border resilience.

As Moldova moves closer to the ballot box, the message was clear: without preparation and unity, disinformation will continue to undermine trust in democracy. But with lessons drawn from neighbors such as Romania and the support of international partners, Moldova has a chance to meet the challenge head-on.