437/67 Monday, December 9, 2024
Romania’s Intelligence Service revealed that the country’s electoral system was targeted by more than 85,000 cyberattacks. The attackers accessed data from election-related websites and disseminated the information on Russian cybercrime forums prior to the presidential election. Intelligence officials suggested the attacks may have exploited user account breaches or vulnerabilities in training servers, with intensified activity observed on election day and the following night.
On December 6, 2024, Romania’s Constitutional Court annulled the entire election process after uncovering irregularities and interference. The court ordered the government to set a new election date and establish an operational plan to restart the process from scratch. Meanwhile, pro-Russian candidate Călin Georgescu, who suspiciously won the election, was heavily promoted on TikTok through coordinated accounts and paid advertisements.
Romania’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SIE) suspects Russia employed tactics to interfere in elections across Eastern Europe, viewing Romania as an “adversary” due to its support for NATO and Ukraine. The interference reportedly included disinformation campaigns, propaganda, and anti-EU agendas. Intelligence agencies warned that Romania’s electoral system remains vulnerable to future attacks.
