By Ute Kaiser
The parties in Germany are already preparing for the Bundestag elections on February 23, 2025. In November, the Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) saw no evidence of any concrete attempts to technically influence the election processes, for example through cyber-attacks. However, experience in the USA and other countries, as well as from past elections, suggests that this could change. False information could, for example, be that there is a risk of electoral fraud in postal voting. Various experts are currently warning in the media that false information can endanger democracy.
False news is intended to manipulate
Examples of previous campaigns show what stakeholders or states consider important when it comes to disinformation. False news, manipulated videos or fake pages of news magazines and newspapers are used to spread lies. They quickly make the rounds on social media – especially if they appeal to emotions, confirm prejudices or are dramatic. Those who launch such campaigns before elections have goals. The fake news should reach as many people as possible. False information is intended to unsettle, deceive and influence. Especially before elections, they are intended to create or increase the population’s distrust in the media, politicians and state institutions.
AI spreads tweets at breakneck speed
Artificial intelligence (AI) helps to spread fake news on a massive scale. This is shown by an analysis carried out by the Federal Foreign Office in June of this year in connection with a pro-Russian disinformation campaign (see link below). A network of hundreds of thousands of non-authentic accounts (bots) imitated profiles of real users. The fake profiles had German first and last names. The fake users disseminated pro-Russian news articles and posts on social media. With the help of AI, several million tweets could be spread in just a few weeks and several tweets per second.
Real images with fake quotes
AI can also help with manipulation. For example, when images of politicians are accompanied by false quotes. It also makes it easier to produce deceptively real images or videos with untrue content, which can also come from political rivals, as an example from the AfD’s online Advent calendar shows. If you click on door number 12, you supposedly hear Nancy Faeser: “No, my Syrians will stay here forever” – a sentence the Federal Minister of the Interior never said.
Questions help with the fact check
Fake news and fake posts are often difficult to recognize. Users should therefore always ask themselves whether the information shared online is convincing and whether what it claims can be true. In Bayerischer Rundfunk’s #Faktenfuchs format, journalists give tips on how to check information
Who is behind the claim? What evidence is there for it? (For example, scientific studies or recognized experts.) What do other (reputable) sources say? (The following information can provide insight into trustworthy sites: Who is behind a website? Is there an imprint and an address where the author of the content can be contacted?) Also: Do your own research – for example in various search engines. A reverse search helps to check whether images are genuine (see link below).
Office for the Protection of the Constitution warns of campaigns
In contrast to the Federal Office for Information Security, the Office for the Protection of the Constitution is already warning of possible attempts by other countries to influence the Bundestag elections. These include disinformation, cyber-attacks, espionage and sabotage. One aim is to influence the free opinion-forming and decision-making process by faking false facts
Since the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, Russia has aggressively expanded the dissemination of pro-Russian and anti-Western information in what it describes as an “information war”. The aim is to create or deepen insecurity and divisions in society in order to reduce support for Ukraine. Influence can also be exerted by specifically promoting individuals, parties and movements.
Bayerischer Rundfunk reported on disinformation on the internet and AI. The link to #Faktenfuchs can also be found there: BR | Disinformation on the Internet
The German government also provides tips on how recognize disinformation: Federal Government | Recognizing disinformation
An analysis by the Federal Foreign Office examines the disinformation campaign “Doppelgänger” with many text and image examples: Federal Foreign Office | “Doppelgänger” disinformation campaign
The Federal Office for Information Security and the Office for the Protection of the Constitution on the current threat posed by fake news: BSI | Wahlen
and protection of the constitution | Threat to the Bundestag elections
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