Romania has experienced unprecedented hybrid turbulence, turbulence that has polarized its society. These have materialized mainly in the digital space. Therefore, it is imperative for Romania to build its security antibodies in the digital space as well. Edge Institute proposes recommendations for a cross-country project of “digital resilience”, a project materialized both domestically and internationally. Starting from a diagnosis and analysis of the strategic framework, these recommendations aim to counter hybrid attacks, combat disinformation through cognitive defense, an innovative technology policy, strengthen Romania’s digital skills and digital diplomacy, among other measures.

At the end of an electoral season in Europe marked by hybrid turbulence, the digital space has become the battleground for the future of our democracies. In Romania, the 2024 elections showed us that, without real digital protection, the ballot boxes can be overturned by algorithms. In the context of the adoption of the National Defense Strategy 2025-2030, the question is not whether we will have elections under the assault of hybrid interference in about 30 months, but how prepared we will be to defend them. In this study, we analyze the phenomenon of disinformation in the context of the 2024 and 2025 elections, also proposing solutions for a country project of “digital resilience”, through institutions with clear responsibilities, innovative policies and a civic resilience trained for democracy rewritten in algorithms.