As Germany heads to the polls this Sunday, an unprecedented wave of online disinformation has flooded social media, aiming to mislead voters and shake public confidence in the democratic process. Authorities point to Russia as the likely culprit behind these influence campaigns, with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party appearing to benefit the most.
Adding to the controversy, billionaire Elon Musk has weighed in through his social media platform X. Musk has openly criticized German politicians while voicing strong support for the AfD, a party known for its pro-Moscow stance.
Russian Interference Suspected
On Friday, Germany’s government revealed it had identified attempts by foreign actors to manipulate the election narrative. According to interior ministry spokesperson Maximilian Kall, these efforts aim to undermine trust in democracy and cast doubt on the fairness of the vote.
Authorities suspect the Kremlin-linked group Storm-1516 of orchestrating several misinformation campaigns. However, officials stress that Germany’s electoral integrity remains intact, and they are actively debunking false claims.
Fake News Fuels Public Anxiety
Misinformation has played on existing fears, especially after a recent stabbing attack that claimed the life of a two-year-old boy. Shortly after the tragedy, a widely shared image showed a police officer leading a group of young children, with the false claim that kindergartens now required police escorts for safety. An AfD politician helped spread the misleading narrative, despite police later clarifying that the image was taken during a routine kindergarten visit to a police station.
Other false claims have gone further, alleging that Chancellor Olaf Scholz declared a state of emergency to delay the election. One influencer falsely claimed that President Frank-Walter Steinmeier planned to annul the vote—an act he has no legal power to carry out.
Musk amplified the misinformation by attacking Steinmeier on X, calling him an “anti-democratic tyrant.”
Election Process Under Attack
Several posts have sought to discredit the legitimacy of Germany’s electoral system. One viral Telegram message falsely claimed voting was illegal and encouraged users to report voters to the police. The claim misrepresented a 2012 court ruling that struck down part of Germany’s election law but never prohibited voting itself.
AfD supporters have also spread misleading content suggesting their party is being unfairly excluded from ballots. A video circulated online claimed ballots in Leipzig omitted the AfD candidate—yet official documents confirm otherwise. Another video, allegedly showing AfD votes being shredded in Hamburg, is also under investigation. Authorities suspect both clips were produced by Storm-1516.
False polling data has further fueled confusion, with outdated survey results from previous state elections being recirculated to claim the AfD is leading nationally.
The AfD and Online Disinformation
Currently polling at a record 20%, the AfD has been at the center of multiple misinformation narratives. Supporters have accused the government of attempting to suppress their vote, spreading false or manipulated content to reinforce this claim.
Earlier this year, Germany’s conservative CDU/CSU coalition passed an anti-immigration motion with AfD votes, breaking a long-standing political rule against cooperating with the far-right party. The move triggered protests nationwide. However, manipulated videos later surfaced, misrepresenting protest footage as pro-AfD rallies. In one case, a clip of a Coldplay concert was falsely presented as a massive gathering of AfD supporters.
Green Party Faces Targeted Attacks
While disinformation has largely boosted the AfD, Germany’s Green Party has been a frequent target of online smears. A TikTok video, viewed thousands of times, claimed Green Party members stormed an AfD party congress in December 2024. However, fact-checkers found the footage was from 2018, and no evidence linked the disruptors to the Greens.
Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, a Green Party leader, warned that online disinformation and hate speech pose a serious threat to democracy. She emphasized the need to counter false narratives that manipulate voters and fuel division.
Germany Fights Back Against Election Misinformation
Despite the flood of false claims, German authorities remain firm in defending the electoral process. Officials continue to swiftly debunk misinformation and urge voters to verify sources before sharing content online.
As election day nears, Germany faces a tough battle against digital disinformation. However, its response underscores the growing global challenge of foreign interference in democratic elections.
