Radu Miruță calls for anti-disinformation law after ambulance attack

Radu Miruță, the interim Defense Minister of Romania, is calling for the expedited adoption of an anti-disinformation law following a violent incident in Récekeresztúr, Cluj County. A crowd attacked an ambulance with axes, sticks, and stones after false information spread on TikTok regarding a “black ambulance” kidnapping children. The attack resulted in serious injuries to the ambulance driver.

Miruță has urged the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Sorin Grindeanu, to prioritize the legislation, arguing that social media falsehoods are translating into direct physical violence against essential workers. While the Senate has passed the draft, it remains stalled in the Chamber of Deputies.

Lawyer and former judge Toni Neacșu has criticized Miruță, suggesting the minister has fallen into a trap of his own making. Neacșu argued that if the proposed law were currently in effect, Miruță’s own social media posts—specifically regarding inaccurate claims about Danube water levels—might be subject to the same restrictions intended to curb disinformation.