MoD Warns of Massive Misinformation on TikTok, Facebook Following Drone Defense Bill

The Ministry of National Defense has warned that two bills passed by the Chamber of Deputies, one that would allow the Army to shoot down drones that enter Romanian airspace, even in peacetime, and one regarding the peacetime deployment of military missions in the country, have been widely circulated on TikTok and Facebook.

The Ministry of National Defense says that among the false claims are that Romanian citizens will be sent to fight in Ukraine, that the adoption of the bills will mean that Parliament will vote to establish a military dictatorship, or that command of the Army will be ceded to foreign armies, NATO or Brussels.

The two adopted bills are the law on the conduct of military missions and operations on Romanian territory during peacetime and the law on controlling the use of national airspace. A series of posts falsely claim that these bills did not go through the legally required transparency process, according to Inforadar, the news platform of the Ministry of National Defense.

“As we have stated in previous posts on this platform, for each of these legislative projects, the Ministry of National Defense has followed all the required procedural steps, including organizing public debates. This can be verified by consulting the section on draft normative acts undergoing the transparency process on the MApN website,” the cited source stated.

“This is not the first time false information, manipulations, and exaggerations based on out-of-context claims have been spread regarding these bills,” MApN warned.

What are the false claims spread by this disinformation campaign?

Posts by various Facebook and TikTok users falsely and baselessly suggest that:

• Romanian citizens will be forced to go to war, or Romanian children will be sent to fight in Ukraine.
• The adoption of these bills will lead to the Romanian Parliament voting to establish a military dictatorship.
• The command of the Romanian Army will be handed over to foreign armies, NATO, or Brussels. (An explanation of the transfer of authority is provided at the end of this post.)
• Once these laws come into force, the army will be authorized to open fire on protesting civilians. (Explanations regarding the authorization of military and foreign personnel for the use of weapons, ammunition, and military devices are also available at the end of this post.)
• The integration of national airspace into NATO airspace and its joint management with allied structures represents a loss of national sovereignty. (Details on NATO countries’ joint airspace management can be found at the end of this post.)
• Once the laws take effect, Romania will be occupied by foreign troops (NATO forces, portrayed as an occupying force).
• The adoption of these bills proves that authorities are preparing Romania to enter the war.
• The initiation, debate, and adoption of these legislative projects constitute an act of national betrayal.

All these claims, and any other variations based on them, are false!

The spread of disinformation and manipulations of the type presented above is not related to the defense of Romania’s national interests or the protection of national sovereignty, the Ministry of Defense further specifies.

“Attempts to present concrete measures to strengthen the defense capacity of Romania and NATO as… acts of national treason are part of the pattern of disinformation campaigns carried out in the public space in Romania, including by state actors with an agenda contrary to Romania’s sovereignty and against NATO, through which an attempt is made to induce a climate of panic and weaken trust in the capacity of institutions in the national security system to fulfill their constitutional missions,” says the aforementioned source.

Such disinformation and manipulations, through which the most powerful instrument guaranteeing them is attacked, constitute attempts to undermine national sovereignty and security.

The law on controlling the use of national airspace aims to establish a new framework for cooperation and coordination among authorities and institutions responsible for managing and monitoring national airspace. This new approach takes into account the current and future security environment.

Following Russia’s illegal war against Ukraine, a country that shares a significant border with Romania, it has become clear that the scope of risks and threats to national security, airspace integrity, aviation safety, human lives, and property must be expanded to include new types of attack methods.

Key provisions of the law:

• The law will regulate the measures Romania can take to control national airspace use.
• It will define the authorities and institutions responsible for preventing and countering unauthorized airspace use, including not just aircraft but also unmanned aerial systems (commonly referred to as drones) and other potential aerial vehicles.
• It will update the legal framework to enhance compliance with airspace regulations and improve aviation security.

Recent incidents, such as Russian drone attacks on Ukraine’s Danube ports, with fragments falling on Romanian territory, and small unmanned aircraft intruding into national airspace, highlight the need for these updates.

The law on military missions and operations in peacetime

This law establishes a legal framework for military missions and operations on Romanian territory to protect citizens’ lives, health, property, rights, and freedoms. The current legal framework does not address the new security challenges posed by Russia’s repeated aggression against Ukraine, a neighboring sovereign state.

Key aspects:

• The bill updates regulations on preparing and conducting peacetime military missions and operations on Romanian soil, either by Romanian forces or NATO allies deployed in Romania.
• It strengthens deterrence and defense measures against potential aggression toward Romania or NATO’s common territory.
• It provides a legal basis for the timely and effective prevention of security threats without requiring the declaration of a state of emergency, mobilization, siege, or war.

NATO’s defense response

In response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, NATO activated regional defense plans for eastern flank countries, including Romania. Since 2022, NATO forces stationed in Romania have increased to approximately 5,000 troops from the U.S., France (which leads the NATO Battle Group at Cincu), Spain, Portugal, Poland, Belgium, the UK, the Netherlands, Italy, Norway, Bulgaria, Turkey, Luxembourg, Germany, Greece, North Macedonia, and Hungary.

This new operational reality requires an updated legal framework for cooperation between Romania’s armed forces and NATO allies deployed on Romanian territory to ensure effective joint operations.