Romania hit by major election influence campaign and Russian cyber-attacks

Romania's intelligence service reveals details of what it says is an attempt from abroad to meddle in the country's presidential election.

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Romania's domestic intelligence service says there are signs the effort was "co-ordinated by a state-sponsored actor".

Calin Georgescu, a far-right Nato-sceptic who has previously praised Vladimir Putin, was almost unknown in Romania until he won the first round of voting in the presidential elections two weeks ago.

Now Romanian intelligence says his sudden and surprise surge in popularity is down to a "highly organised" and "guerrilla" campaign on social media, sharing identical messaging and using influencers.

They say it was conducted from "external locations" to bypass controls.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgq18w507dko

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