INTERFERENŢA ACTORILOR EXTERNI ÎN PROCESELE ELECTORALE. PARTEA I
INTERFERENCE BY EXTERNAL ACTORS IN ELECTORAL PROCESSES. PART I

Summary/Abstract: Interference by external actors in electoral processes represents one of the most important challenges for the functioning of modern democracies. They try to influence the outcome of elections in another country, without having the legitimacy to participate in the respective democratic process. These interventions can affect the integrity of elections, citizens' trust in state institutions and the political stability of a society. In the context of the development of digital technologies and the globalization of information, interference methods have become increasingly sophisticated. Social networks allow the rapid distribution of information to millions of users, and this can be exploited to spread fake news, manipulate public opinion or amplify political messages favorable to certain external interests. One of the most common forms of interference is disinformation. By creating and distributing false or misleading information, external actors try to influence voters' perceptions of candidates, political parties or issues of public interest. Disinformation can generate confusion, polarization and distrust in the electoral process. In many cases, manipulation campaigns are supported by fake accounts, automated bots and coordinated networks that artificially amplify certain narratives. Another form of interference is represented by cyber attacks on electoral infrastructure. These can target voter databases, the IT systems of electoral institutions or the communication platforms of political parties. Even when such attacks do not actually change the election results, they can create the impression that the electoral process is vulnerable or compromised, affecting public trust in the legitimacy of the election.

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