18. December 2025

Manipulating an election is easier than waging a war

Dear friends!

Manipulating an election is easier than waging a war.

Those of you who read my newsletter regularly know that we are currently experiencing in Europe just how true this statement is. You know how the recommendation systems of algorithms favour polarising content. You know that in the elections in Poland, Germany and the UK, Musk’s algorithms on X were manipulated in such a way that the extremes were displayed many times more often – while the reach of the Greens and SPD in Germany, for example, was restricted. You know that during the elections in Romania, the content of the democratic candidates was suppressed on TikTok, while the far-right candidate was allowed to spread lies unhindered. You also know that bot networks push right-wing content on the major platforms. You know that journalistic content is being downgraded and publishers are sounding the alarm. And even if you didn’t know, now you do, and you can find all the sources below.

Who doesn’t want to know: the EU Commission.

Because even though all this is known, the EU Commission, and above all the responsible Commissioner Virkkunen, is not using the tough instruments of European law, in particular the Digital Services Act (DSA), to protect elections in Europe against this manipulation.

That is why, on behalf of 46 MEPs from four political groups (Christian Democrats/Conservatives EPP, Social Democrats S&D, Liberals Renew, Greens/EFA), I asked the Commission live in Parliament this morning: Why are you doing so little? And no, a €140 million fine for X is a very small drop in the ocean. Why does the EU Commission continue to accept business models that threaten our democracy?

Not responsible: Commissioner McGrath responds

As usual, the EU Commission responds. But not through the responsible Commissioner and Vice-President Virkunnen. Instead, she sends in McGrath, the Commissioner for Democracy, who is not responsible for digital legislation. And this is not the first time. Last time, Virkkunen was not in Parliament, but preferred to meet with big tech companies. The influence of big tech companies and the US government on this Commission is an open secret.

You can watch my speech here. Feel free to share it

McGrath’s response is also symptomatic of the Commission: he rattles off the laws that the Commission should actually be implementing. But hardly a word about their actual implementation. ‘Continue’ was the theme of his response. In view of the abundant evidence of election manipulation and the clearly stated desire of Putin and Trump to destroy European democracy, continuing as before is too little, too late. Too little courage to stand up to Trump, Putin and Co. Unfortunately, there is also a lack of understanding of what is needed now. We cannot continue like this.

These are the three things we can do now

All three things have one goal: to put more pressure on the EU Commission to finally use all the options we have as Europe:

  1. Forge new alliances! The distortion on the major platforms does not only affect political content. Journalistic content in particular is massively affected and is hardly reaching anyone anymore. When talking to journalists and publishers, you hear great concern, economically, but also fundamentally about the future of human-made media. At the same time, many online editorial offices are still trying to squeeze out the last few clicks with ever more polarising headlines. It is time for a rethink: only if politicians and the media fight together for fair algorithms, media freedom and freedom of expression will the EU Commission take notice. Yesterday’s major press conference (watch my speech at the press conference here) was not the only indication that there is still a lot to be done!
  2. Beyond party lines! What this question from the 46 MEPs also showed today is that in a parliament where the conservatives of the EPP are tearing down the last remnants of the cordon sanitaire against the far right with every vote, there are still those in the EPP who do not want to succumb to the tyranny of the far right. The picture above from our press conference with representatives from four political groups shows that there are cross-party majorities to be won here. In today’s debate, the vast majority of MEPs advocated for a more decisive implementation of the DSA. This is also an important factor in putting pressure on the Commission.
  3. More visibility for the facts! In the end, everything depends on how much publicity we can generate. Through the algorithms and around them. How many people know how strongly opinions are distorted and suppressed on online platforms, how systematically elections are influenced? That is why I am asking you to share the links to my speech today on your platforms:
  • Please also forward this email to your contacts.
  • Here is the very useful handout from the press conference that my team put together. You can use that too.

With all this in mind, one thing is clear: we need to step up our efforts in 2026. Ever since Trump’s National Security Strategy, we have had it in black and white that he wants to use the tech bros to replace European democracy in favour of a rule by far-right parties. In lockstep with Putin.

Because Trump, Putin and China have understood that manipulating elections and opinions is easier than waging and winning wars.

In 2026, we will do everything we can to ensure that Europe finally takes a consistent stand against this in the digital space.

Thank you for your support and happy holidays.

Yours, Alexandra Geese

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Studies that prove political bias on online platforms:

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