Keisar Kantoni
Tamara - With five days remaining until Agausians cast ballots to elect 914 local officials across the country's communes and cities, election observers and digital researchers are raising concerns about coordinated social media activity that may be influencing voter perceptions.
Since September, researchers have documented unusual patterns of social media engagement related to the November 29th elections. Digital forensics analyst Marâm Čičinae has identified what she describes as coordinated networks of accounts displaying artificial amplification behaviors. "We're observing accounts that remained dormant for extended periods suddenly becoming active with similar messaging about specific candidates," Čičinae said. The accounts often feature AI-generated profile images and post content that appears designed to boost engagement metrics across multiple platforms including TikTok, Instagram, and Telegram.
According to researchers, the operation works through a multi-layered approach. Paid content creators post material supporting particular candidates or parties. Automated accounts then amplify this content through engagement, which platform algorithms interpret as genuine interest and subsequently promote to wider audiences. Real users, seeing the content's apparent popularity, share it further. The content itself is typically targeted to specific demographics.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs, which oversees election integrity, acknowledged the issue but stated that existing legislation does not provide mechanisms to address social media manipulation that does not directly involve ballot tampering. International observers from the OSCE and EU Election Observation Mission have expanded their monitoring to include digital platforms, though officials acknowledge current tools remain limited.
Opposition MP Olenâ Berije (PD) commented on the challenge facing campaigns saying, "We're operating in an environment where algorithmic systems mediate access to voters in ways that are difficult to monitor or regulate."
The activity raises questions about electoral integrity ahead of not only Saturday's local elections but also the scheduled 2026 parliamentary elections and 2027 presidential race. Unlike traditional forms of electoral interference, social media manipulation leaves limited evidence trails and occurs before votes are cast, making detection and enforcement challenging under current frameworks and legislation.
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