Headlines
Nearly 90% of Germans fear foreign election interference, finds survey
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on February 6, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 26, 2026
Quick Summary
A survey reveals 90% of Germans fear foreign election interference, mainly from Russia and the U.S. The internet is crucial for election info, with calls for stronger digital policies.
Majority of Germans Fear Foreign Influence in Elections
BERLIN (Reuters) - Nearly 90% of Germans believe foreign actors, primarily from Russia and the U.S., are trying to influence upcoming national elections through social media, a survey found on Thursday.
Industry association Bitkom conducted a representative survey of more than 1,000 eligible voters last month that found 45% of respondents believe Russia is at the forefront of manipulation attempts, followed closely by the United States at 42%, and well ahead of China, at 26%, and Eastern Europe at 8%.
For some two-thirds (69%) of eligible voters, the internet is an important source of information about the elections set for February 23, but conversations with friends and family continue to be more important, at 82%. Television, at 76%, still plays an important role as well, especially for people over 75.
Roughly 80% of respondents called for the next government to make digital policy one of its priorities and 71% were in favour of creating a new, independent digital ministry, found Bitkom.
"The new digital ministry must be equipped with all the necessary rights and resources, needs its own budget and a digital proviso for new laws and projects," said Bitkom President Ralf Wintergerst at a news conference.
(Reporting by Christian Kraemer; Writing by Miranda Murray)
Key Takeaways
- •Nearly 90% of Germans fear foreign election interference.
- •Russia and the U.S. are seen as primary actors in election meddling.
- •The internet is a key information source for 69% of voters.
- •80% want digital policy prioritized by the next government.
- •71% support the creation of an independent digital ministry.
Frequently Asked Questions about Nearly 90% of Germans fear foreign election interference, finds survey
1What is the main topic?
The article discusses German concerns about foreign interference in their elections, primarily from Russia and the U.S.
2What did the Bitkom survey find?
The survey found that nearly 90% of Germans fear foreign election interference, with Russia and the U.S. as main actors.
3What do Germans want from their government?
80% want digital policy prioritized, and 71% support creating an independent digital ministry.
