Nowadays, election coverage no longer focuses solely on the political and social consequences. Increasingly, the security of the electoral process is also being analysed. Cyber attacks, foreign influence and disinformation campaigns are on the rise and threaten the integrity of democratic elections.

The key question on many people’s minds in Germany ahead of the federal elections on 23 February 2025 is: How secure are our elections?

Cyber attacks on election systems: a growing threat?

• DDoS attacks on election authorities: Information systems could be paralysed by targeted server overloads. This could not only affect the websites of election authorities, parties and politicians, but also platforms that report on the election and delay or make election results inaccessible.
• Manipulation of election results: While voting is paper-based, the digital transmission or publication of results could be compromised.
• Phishing and social engineering: Attacks on politicians, campaign teams or election workers could result in confidential information being stolen or misused.

How relevant is this for the federal election?

Germany does not use fully electronic voting systems. The Federal Constitutional Court ruled in 2009 that voting computers may not be used. Voting takes place exclusively on paper, partly to make manipulation more difficult. This means that the direct election process remains largely protected from cyber attacks.

However, political parties, candidates and electoral authorities remain vulnerable. Phishing attacks or data leaks could allow confidential information to fall into the wrong hands, or accounts could be taken over by criminals and used for targeted disinformation.

Fake news and disinformation: the invisible danger

One of the greatest threats to modern elections is the targeted dissemination of false information. Fake news is used strategically, particularly on social networks, messenger services and seemingly reputable news portals, to:

• Undermine trust in democratic processes, e.g. through false claims of electoral fraud.
• Targeted influence on political sentiment, often through staged scandals or statements taken out of context.
• Polarise and divide voter groups by amplifying emotional and controversial issues.

How relevant is this for the federal election?

Disinformation poses a significant threat. The German Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) has also warned about fake news. Often, fabricated reports are spread by fake accounts, making it almost impossible to trace the origin of the news. Deep fakes – artificially generated videos or audio recordings – could also be used for manipulation.

The Federal Constitutional Court also warns against influence from foreign intelligence services. However, domestic groups or individuals can also deliberately spread false information to push their political agenda. Examples of fake news circulating about the election can be found on the website of the Federal Returning Officer.

The BSI recommends the following measures to expose disinformation, fake news and deep fakes:

• Critically question emotional content instead of forwarding it without checking it.
• Check the authorship of news items, images or videos.
• Compare information with at least two other sources.
• Use fact checks from independent organisations to expose false information.

This is especially true for social media, where platforms such as Facebook are doing less and less fact-checking.

Cybercrime as a challenge for democracy

The 2025 federal election will not only be decided at the ballot box, but also in the digital world. Cyberattacks, fake news and disinformation campaigns are real threats that can undermine trust in democratic processes.

To ensure fair and transparent elections, it is crucial to strengthen both digital security and media literacy among the population.

Stay vigilant: question information critically, use trustworthy media and help protect democracy.

Make your way to the polls on 23 February 2025. Every vote counts 😉