Romanian Court Nullifies First Round of Presidential Election, Citing Digital Campaign Manipulation
The Romanian Constitutional Court has issued a groundbreaking decision, annulling the results of the first round of the presidential election and ordering a complete restart of the electoral process. The court’s 10-page explanation cites “discrepancies and irregularities” that “violated the free and fair character of citizens’ voting and the equal opportunities of candidates,” ultimately undermining the integrity of the election.
The court highlights the manipulation of voter opinion and the unequal playing field created for candidates due to “the non-transparent use of digital technologies and artificial intelligence in the conduct of the campaign, as well as through financing the campaign from undeclared sources, in violation of the electoral legislation.”
At the heart of the court’s decision lies concerns about voter misinformation and the blurring lines between political advertising and genuine social media content. The judges underscored the need for voters to have access to accurate information and protection from undue influence.
“Political advertising can become disinformation, in particular when its political nature is not disclosed and it comes from sponsors outside the European Union. Interference and the conduct of pre-election propaganda or disinformation campaigns by state or non-state actors must be excluded,” the court declared.
The court pointed to a specific instance where one candidate gained an unfair advantage through aggressive promotion, exploiting social network algorithms and circumventing national law.
“The campaign was not labelled as political advertisement, which is required by law,” the court noted. “The applicant benefited from the preferential treatment” of a specific platform (TikTok), which ultimately, according to the court, distorted the opinion of the voters.”
The ruling emphasizes the need for transparency in the use of digital technologies and artificial intelligence within political campaigns. “Otherwise, voters are prevented from forming an opinion about the candidates and the election, as they can be misinformed,” the court warned, stressing that election campaign methods must be regularly scrutinized and violators held accountable.
Given the difficulties in quantifying the effects of disinformation campaigns, what specific evidence or criteria did the Romanian Constitutional Court likely consider in reaching its decision? [[1](https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9099201)]
**Interviewer:** Joining us today is Dr. Emilia Grigore, a leading expert on electoral integrity and digital governance. Dr. Grigore, the Romanian Constitutional Court made a historic decision this week, nullifying the first round of the presidential election due to digital campaign manipulation. What are your initial thoughts on this unprecedented move? Do you think this sets a precedent for other nations grappling with similar challenges?
