Training the Trainers to Combat Electoral Disinformation

The Training of Trainers (ToT) workshop, organized by ADEPT and UNESCO, brought together journalists, activists, and experts to examine information-related risks in the context of elections. Participants engaged in discussions on disinformation, cybersecurity, and digital governance, equipping themselves to pass this knowledge on to others.

Over the course of two days, more than 30 journalists, influencers, and civil society representatives took part in the ToT workshop titled “Safeguarding Information Integrity in Moldova’s Elections,” organized by the ADEPT Association and UNESCO, under the auspices of the Civic Coalition for Free and Fair Elections (CALC).

The event provided an interactive space for analyzing the informational risks of the pre-electoral period and featured valuable contributions from both national and international institutions.

“Disinformation is one of the greatest challenges facing the 2025 parliamentary elections,” warned Pavel Postica, Vice President of the Central Electoral Commission. Giulia Melotti (UNESCO) underscored the importance of responsible and transparent digital governance, while Skye Christensen (UNDP) drew attention to the risks of illicit political financing and the erosion of public trust in institutions: “Election integrity is not just a technical matter—it’s a test of democracy’s credibility.”

From the academic sector, Dinu Țurcanu (Technical University of Moldova) spoke about cyberattacks and deepfakes as modern forms of manipulation: “Cybersecurity in elections is no longer optional—it’s democracy’s frontline defense.”

Journalist Viorica Tătaru and her colleague Andrei Captarenco shared firsthand experiences of the threats reporters face both in the field and online. Dr. Priyanka Bhalla (Meta) introduced tools for online safety, including the global initiative StopNCII.org.

The training reaffirmed that protecting the electoral process requires a collective response—from institutions, the media, tech platforms, and informed citizens. As Giulia Melotti aptly summarized: “In a rapidly shifting information landscape, manipulation is no longer the exception—it’s a dangerous new norm.”