Nicușor Dan will establish a special department for combating fake news, directly coordinated by him, in the context of a weak response from state institutions.

President Nicușor Dan announced the intention to establish a special department dedicated to combating fake news and disinformation, which will operate under his direct coordination. This initiative comes in response to the lack of reaction from state institutions in the face of the proliferation of false information, especially on social media, where manipulative messages quickly reach a large audience. The new department will include representatives from institutions with responsibilities in the field, aiming to create a coherent mechanism for response and coordination.

The decision to establish this department is also a reaction to the manipulations that led to the cancellation of the presidential elections in 2024, including the European Commission's investigation into TikTok's role in manipulating the electoral campaign. Although a working group was created to monitor disinformation campaigns, the results have been limited. Additionally, many of the disinformation campaigns are orchestrated by political parties, which has led to a weak response from Romanian authorities. Reports from NGOs highlight that the state has not had a consistent response to systemic disinformation, emphasizing the need for this new department.