Moldovan president urges social media accountability at Paris Peace Forum

President of the Republic of Moldova Maia Sandu participated in the 8th edition of the Paris Peace Forum at the invitation of French President Emmanuel Macron, where she delivered a speech on the dangers online manipulation poses to modern democracies.

The event annually brings together heads of state and government, international leaders, experts, and representatives of civil society to discuss solutions to major global challenges — from peace and security to sustainable development and democratic governance, CE Report quotes MOLDPRES.

President Sandu emphasized that social media platforms — once symbols of freedom and transparency — have become vast spaces for manipulation, exploited by authoritarian regimes to undermine democratic processes.

“Authoritarian regimes that suppress freedom of expression at home use the same platforms to undermine democracies abroad. They exploit the openness of our societies to spread manipulation while denying their own citizens that very freedom,” the head of state said.

President Maia Sandu also stressed that online platforms have a responsibility to combat manipulation and disinformation:

“Platforms must follow their own rules — and the law. They must provide real access to data, disclose who pays for amplification, and allow independent audits of content moderation and political advertising.”

On the sidelines of the Forum, President Sandu met with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. The two leaders discussed peace and stability in Europe, the protection of electoral integrity, countering threats to the sovereignty of both countries, and strengthening the resilience of democratic institutions.

President Sandu also met with Peter De Roover, President of the Chamber of Representatives of the Belgian Parliament, to discuss Belgium’s support for Moldova’s European integration path.

Investment in Moldova’s economy was the main topic of discussion with Rémy Rioux, Director General of the French Development Agency (AFD). The AFD Group supports development projects that improve people’s lives in Moldova, including initiatives in energy efficiency, reforestation, and financing for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).