With the Bundestag election approaching, the challenges posed by foreign disinformation campaigns are coming to the forefront. Russia, in particular, is employing a range of tactics to promote political instability and shake the public's trust in democratic institutions. Common methods include fake websites, deepfake technologies, and manipulated social media content. These campaigns are specifically designed to influence public opinion and undermine the legitimacy of the electoral process.
In response to these threats, German security authorities and the federal government have taken extensive measures. This includes the establishment of institutions such as the "Central Office for Identifying Foreign Information Manipulation," which allows for a coordinated response to disinformation campaigns. However, many questions remain unresolved, such as the effectiveness of the Digital Services Act, which aims to compel digital platforms to combat disinformation. The implementation of these regulations is often insufficient, and the question of how well the new measures can actually protect the integrity of the election remains unanswered.