German Bundestag hearing warns Russian disinformation as democratic threat

Lawmakers in the German Bundestag heard experts warn that Russian state‑run disinformation campaigns, amplified by artificial‑intelligence‑generated content and large online platforms, constitute a direct attack on democratic societies. Speakers described a tightly integrated ecosystem of state media, intelligence services, troll networks and AI tools that aim to sow division, erode trust in democratic processes and weaken support for Ukraine. The Russian budget is said to allocate roughly €1.5 billion in 2026 for propaganda media. Experts called for stronger media‑literacy education, tighter regulation of big platforms under the EU Digital Services Act and better public awareness to counter the “security risk” posed by such campaigns.