Romania and Moldova propose new rules for political influencers

Authorities in Romania and Moldova are seeking to update electoral legislation to address the influence of digital creators and new financing methods in political campaigns.

In Romania, Adrian Țuțuianu, president of the Permanent Electoral Authority, stated that laws must be modified to regulate political advertising by influencers, cryptocurrency donations, and the intentional fragmentation of payments to bypass notary requirements for donations exceeding 25,000 lei. He noted that some influencers receive funds to promote candidates or parties without proper tax documentation.

In Moldova, the Central Electoral Commission (CEC) has proposed amendments to the Electoral Code to regulate online electoral communication. The initiative aims to classify influencers and content creators as “participants in online electoral communication,” requiring them to register with the CEC and declare collaborations and remuneration. This follows observations by international observers, including OSCE/ODIHR, regarding the use of AI-generated videos, troll farms, and automated bots to spread disinformation during previous elections.