Nicusor Dan calls for online regulation / The president warns that networks of fake accounts amplify disinformation

President Nicuşor Dan stated on Wednesday, in Prague, that states must cooperate in the fields of technology and cybersecurity to counter hybrid warfare, but also that the authorities must have the courage to regulate how the online space is used.

The statement was made at a press conference held alongside the President of the Czech Republic, Petr Pavel. Nicuşor Dan explained that the fight against disinformation has two components: politicians' public communication and limiting the effects that coordinated networks of fake accounts can have.

The president said that politicians must take responsibility for their failures and partial achievements in order to reduce the gap between official messages and the reality perceived by citizens. Otherwise, public trust declines, and disinformation becomes easier to spread.

"Regarding the cyber area, the possibility of investing in research and development is important, so cooperation is needed. Regarding disinformation, we discussed this both privately and in the discussion with the delegations about this phenomenon. There are two components: one is public communication and the level of society's trust in politicians. In my opinion, politicians must take responsibility, including for their failures or partial achievements, because otherwise we are engaged in a parallel dialogue between what politicians communicate and what people feel is their everyday reality. And, again, a very important technological component. It is a matter of quantity. If we allow 10,000 fake accounts to amplify a message, the voice of the citizen who democratically has an opinion and wants to express it can no longer be heard. Likewise, a few dozen accounts that come in and comment on the website of a citizen or a political actor can discourage others from coming and associating with them. So, in my opinion, this is an extremely important issue for our democracy, and here we must have the courage to regulate," Nicuşor Dan stated.