Moldova’s Disinformation Center now under Presidency
Effective August 12, the Center for Strategic Communication and Countering Disinformation has been transferred to the authority of the Presidency.
The presidential decree to promulgate the changes approved by Parliament was published today in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Moldova.
The bill, which provided for the renaming of the institution—from "Center for Strategic Communication and Combating Disinformation" to "Center for Strategic Communication and Countering Disinformation"—was passed by Parliament on July 10 in its second reading. The name change reflects a greater emphasis on preventing and mitigating the impact of disinformation, including through public education.
The Center's director will become an ex-officio member of the Supreme Security Council and will be appointed or dismissed by the President. According to Parliament, placing the Center under the Presidency's authority "will facilitate a better coordination of public policies, increase accountability and transparency," and will contribute to the "effective alignment of the state's domestic and foreign policy, within the context of the President's responsibilities in national security and international relations."
The legislative amendments also establish a new format for the Center's advisory council, which will serve in a consultative capacity. Members will serve on a voluntary basis and may be drawn from academia, public administration, the security and defense sectors, international relations, or among strategic partners.
The law also introduces updated definitions for terms like "strategic communication," "information manipulation actions," and "foreign interference," in line with European practices. It adds new terms, such as "sensitive security information" and "societal resilience."
Translation by Iurie Tataru
