Russia Flooding German Social Media with Fake News Ahead of Elections, Government Says

Russia has intensified its efforts to spread disinformation and propaganda across German social media platforms ahead of upcoming regional elections, according to a warning issued by the German government on Tuesday. Officials report a significant increase in Russian-backed fake news campaigns designed to influence voter sentiment and destabilize German democratic processes.

Nancy Faeser, Germany’s Interior Minister, stated that Russian actors are deliberately targeting Germany with false narratives and manipulated content. “We are observing a systematic attempt to undermine trust in our democratic institutions through coordinated disinformation campaigns,” Faeser said during a press conference in Berlin.

Intelligence agencies have identified numerous social media accounts linked to Russian state operators that are disseminating fabricated stories about German politics, immigration policies, and Germany’s support for Ukraine. These accounts often masquerade as legitimate German citizens or news sources to appear credible to unsuspecting readers.

The timing of this escalation coincides with upcoming state elections in Saxony, Thuringia, and Brandenburg—three eastern German states where anti-establishment parties have been gaining traction. Analysts believe Russia is particularly focusing on these regions due to existing social divisions that can be exploited.

Thomas Haldenwang, head of Germany’s domestic intelligence agency, explained that the Russian tactics have evolved significantly since previous election cycles. “We’re no longer just seeing crude propaganda but sophisticated narratives tailored to specific German audiences, particularly those already skeptical of mainstream politics or Germany’s Ukraine policy,” Haldenwang noted.

The disinformation campaigns typically promote narratives that portray Germany’s government as incompetent, suggest that sanctions against Russia are hurting Germans more than Russians, or amplify anti-immigration sentiment. Security experts have identified at least 35 networks of coordinated accounts that have reached millions of German social media users in recent months.

This wave of Russian interference reflects a broader pattern observed across Western democracies. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, European officials have reported intensified disinformation efforts targeting countries supporting Ukraine’s defense.

Germany, as Europe’s largest economy and a key supplier of military aid to Ukraine, represents a high-value target for Russian influence operations. The country has committed over €17 billion in military assistance to Ukraine since the war began, making it the second-largest contributor after the United States.

Social media platforms including Meta, X (formerly Twitter), and YouTube have acknowledged the challenge and claim to have removed hundreds of accounts linked to Russian influence operations. However, German officials argue that platform responses remain inadequate given the scale and sophistication of the threat.

“The platforms must take greater responsibility in identifying and removing coordinated inauthentic behavior,” said Faeser. “This is not just about election security but about protecting our information ecosystem.”

The German government has established a dedicated task force combining intelligence resources with media literacy experts to counter these influence operations. The initiative includes rapid response teams that identify and debunk false narratives before they gain traction, along with public awareness campaigns educating voters about disinformation tactics.

Political analysts warn that the impact of such campaigns shouldn’t be underestimated. “Even when people don’t fully believe false information, repeated exposure can create doubt and cynicism about all sources of information,” explained Dr. Katharina Emschermann from the Centre for International Security at the Hertie School in Berlin.

The German case highlights the evolving nature of information warfare, where election interference no longer requires hacking voting systems but can be achieved through sustained manipulation of public discourse.

As Germany prepares for its regional elections, authorities are urging citizens to verify information sources, be skeptical of emotionally charged content, and report suspected disinformation to platform moderators. The government has also launched a dedicated website providing factual information to counter prevalent false narratives being circulated online.