Associated Incidents
BERLIN --- The German Interior Ministry has identified a Russia-linked disinformation campaign spreading fake claims of election fraud in Germany just days before Sunday's vote.
Fabricated videos circulating on social media falsely suggest ballots in Leipzig are missing the name of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) candidate. Another video appears to show a machine shredding ballots cast for the AfD. As first reported by Der Spiegel, city officials and security agencies have debunked both videos and warned of an attempt to mislead voters.
"This is a targeted campaign designed to influence the Bundestag election," a spokesperson for the interior ministry told POLITICO. "Authorities in Leipzig and Hamburg quickly verified these videos as fake. The characteristics of this disinformation effort point to 'Storm-1516,' a Russian-affiliated influence operation that has been active in past elections."
Storm-1516 is a known Russia-linked group that has previously spread election-related falsehoods, including during the 2024 presidential vote in the United States. The group relies on fake news websites and anonymous social media accounts to amplify misleading narratives, aiming to erode trust in democratic institutions.
In Leipzig, city authorities said in a Feb. 18 statement that all official ballots had been printed in a single production run, making the suggested errors in the videos impossible.
"There are no reports from voters of missing AfD candidates or ballot errors," the city emphasized. "We are reviewing legal actions against those responsible for spreading this disinformation."
More than 140,000 ballots have already been distributed for early voting, and German election monitors say no irregularities have been reported, according to the city of Leipzig.
The Interior Ministry has been warning for months about potential Russian interference in Germany's election, particularly through social media manipulation. German intelligence services have traced influence networks that are using fake news websites, anonymous Telegram channels and X users to amplify misleading narratives.
Social media platforms are under pressure in the European Union to curb the spread of falsehoods. While some accounts sharing the videos have been taken down, new ones continue to appear. The Interior Ministry is urging platforms to take immediate action to prevent further spread.
With less than two days until Germany votes, authorities are working to counteract the spread of false information. Election officials and fact-checkers are reassuring the public that the integrity of the voting process remains intact.
Not only Leipzig authorities but also the Interior Ministry are considering legal measures against those responsible for the spread of the fake videos.