Bulgaria has asked the European Union to help it combat Russia’s interference ahead of this month’s parliamentary elections. According to correspondence analyzed by Politico, Sofia’s appeal included a request for the EU’s diplomatic service, the European External Action Service (EEAS), to detect and analyze campaigns by foreign actors intended to manipulate public opinion.
Sofia also requested that the EU activate a process called the “rapid reaction system” under the Digital Services Act (DSA). This process, which the Commission confirmed last week that it had initiated, stipulates that the body should consult with the main social media platforms to identify and stop disinformation campaigns as they unfold.
Bulgaria’s request comes in a context where the country is preparing for a possible interference in the elections ahead of the parliamentary vote on April 19, with fears that foreign actors will try to manipulate public opinion through social networks and propaganda websites.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the country has already established a temporary unit to counteract foreign interference and has chosen investigative journalist Christo Grozev, who previously worked for the open source information group Bellingcat, as an advisor.
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