Nearly 90% of Germans fear foreign election interference, finds survey
Nearly 90% of Germans fear foreign election interference, finds survey
Published by Global Banking and Finance Review
Posted on February 6, 2025

Published by Global Banking and Finance Review
Posted on February 6, 2025

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)