“Do everything in your power.” Two American senators demand Meta and Google to block Russian misinformation campaigns before the Moldovan elections
Jeff Bezos (left), the founder of Amazon, discussing with Mark Zuckerberg (right) at the Ceremony of President Donald Trump on January 20, 2025, photo: Brendan Smialowski / AFP / Profimedia Images
Two American senators sent letters to Meta and Alphabet (Google's mother company), asking them to take urgent measures to prevent the use of online platforms in misinformation and political funding supported by Russia before the parliamentary elections in the Republic of Moldova, scheduled on September 28, a press release published by the US Commission on Friday.
The two are Jeanne Shaheen, a democrat in the state of New Hampshire and a high -ranking member of the US Senate Commission, and Thom Tillis, Republican of North Carolina, involved in the partnership program between this US state and the Republic of Moldova.
“The involvement in the pre -election period is essential”
“Although we must remain neutral towards the results of the Moldovan elections, we cannot be indifferent to the attempts of foreign powers to tilt the balance in favor of parties or candidates. When this interference is manifested by means of American platforms, we must adopt a proactive approach,” the senators wrote in Alpha.
“We urge you to do everything in your power to make sure that the sanctioned ili Șor oligarch can no longer use your platforms to spread propaganda,” the senators said to the letter to Meta.
The senators also invoked the warnings of President Maia Sandu, who said that the “Russian Federation wants to control the Republic of Moldova” and plans to use online platforms to broadcast antidemocratic messages.
In the letter to Meta, Shaheen and Tillis, they asked the company to take measures to prevent the use of Facebook and Instagram by the iligarch Ilan Șor, sanctioned by the United States, to spread the propaganda. The Watchdog.md organization has identified 146 anonymous pages associated with it, by which they bought political ads, and estimates that a total of over 2,000 pages on Facebook are controlled by Kremlin
“Unfortunately, in a small country, such a campaign can have a disproportionate impact. In-pre-election involvement is essential for choices not only free, but also correct (…) Despite sanctions, Ilan Șor has spent about $ 546,000 on Facebook ads between 2022 and 2024. To spread propaganda, “say the senators in the letter to Mark Zuckerberg.
In the letter to Google, the two pointed out that “YouTube has already been launched” massive advertising campaigns “supported by Russia and stressed that the involvement of companies is” essential so that the elections are not only free, but also correct. “
“President Maia Sandu has already warned that” the Russian Federation wants to control the Republic of Moldova “and has a plan to use online platforms to spread non -democratic messages. Independent non -governmental organizations confirm this evaluation, and the Watchdog.md group has found that Russian actors have already launched “massive advertisements on YouTube”. As people who have applied for our public functions, we know that the elections are not only decided on the day of the vote. The involvement in the pre -election period is essential for the poll to be not only free, but also correctly ”, it is shown in the letter of the senators.
Network controlled by Șor, with anti-Eu and anti-Sandu messages
An investigation published a day ago by the Guard newspaper shows how a “digital army” of false accounts, coordinated by activists of the “Victory” block, disseminated on social networks Russian propaganda messages in the Republic of Moldova. The network, controlled by the ilig of Ilan Șor in Moscow, promoted anti-EU topics and messages against President Maia Sandu, in the context of the Moldovan parliamentary elections scheduled at the end of September. According to the publication, the activists received online instructions, through Telegram groups, and were informed that they will be paid “directly from Moscow”.
The network also promoted the former candidate in the presidential elections in Romania, Călin Georgescu. Pro-Georgescu messages began to appear after it was raised from traffic and led to hearings, in Bucharest, shows the investigation by journalist Natalia Zaharescu, who infiltrated the network of activists and received, together with them, instructions for sending messages on social networks.
“Publish a post about Călin Georgescu's illegal arrest.” A press investigation from Chisinau shows how the Romanian politician of paid activists was promoted “Direct from Moscow”
