Bulgaria Activates EU Disinformation Alert System Ahead of April 19 Elections
Bulgaria has activated the European Union’s Rapid Response System under the Digital Services Act (DSA) in preparation for the early parliamentary elections scheduled for April 19. The system, designed to combat disinformation and foreign interference, will remain active for one week following the elections, according to a European Commission spokesperson BTA reported.
Combating Disinformation: The DSA and Bulgaria’s Response
The activation of the alert system signifies Bulgaria’s proactive approach to safeguarding the integrity of its electoral process. The Digital Services Act aims to address illegal and harmful online activities, with a specific focus on the spread of disinformation as detailed by the Sofia Globe. The European Commission spokesperson emphasized that the DSA’s tools are available to support elections across the EU, with the overarching goal of ensuring citizens can make informed decisions.
In parallel with the EU-level activation, Bulgaria’s Foreign Ministry has established a temporary coordination mechanism to counter disinformation, combat hybrid threats, and maintain information resilience. This initiative, ordered by caretaker Minister Nadezhda Neynski, anticipates an increase in disinformation campaigns and manipulation of foreign policy information leading up to the elections according to the Sofia Globe.
Coordination and Cooperation
The coordination mechanism will focus on several key areas, including:
- Institutional communication response coordination
- Strategic communications planning and execution
- Collaboration with international partners, including EU and NATO structures
- Engagement with civil society organizations and academia
The European Commission has not been invited to a joint meeting with online platforms to discuss the elections and prevent disinformation, but such meetings are voluntary and at the discretion of national authorities BTA reported. The Commission maintains a cooperation mechanism for sharing information and best practices among Member States, involving national authorities, civil society, and fact-checkers.
EU Support and National Sovereignty
The European Commission spokesperson clarified that although the EU can offer assistance and strengthen democratic resilience, elections remain a national competence. The spokesperson also noted that online platforms boosting interference attempts could be subject to investigation as reported by BTA.
These elections follow a period of political instability in Bulgaria, marking the eighth parliamentary election in five years as noted by Al Jazeera. The snap election was called after the previous government resigned in December following protests against corruption.