Armenian MP urges digital security rethink at PACE

PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenian MP Sona Ghazaryan addressed the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), emphasizing that information interference threatens electoral integrity and requires both legal and educational responses.

Speaking during the second part of PACE’s annual session in Strasbourg, Ghazaryan, a member of the Armenian delegation, discussed the challenges posed by digital and informational threats, according to Factor.am .

"Foreign interference is no longer an exceptional occurrence. It has become a continuous pressure—silent, strategic, and often invisible. It doesn’t manifest as overt aggression. Rather, it’s a strategy involving disinformation campaigns that cast doubt on our elections, cyberattacks that undermine trust in our institutions, financial channels infiltrating political arenas, and targeted efforts to polarize and destabilize open societies from within," she stated.

She noted a growing concern globally over how TikTok and similar platforms, along with other forms of social media, may influence electoral outcomes.

"Armenia, too, faces such challenges. The Varieties of Democracy initiative has documented foreign interference here, often through media outlets financed by third parties. As a legislator, I respond in two key directions: legislative initiatives to ensure transparency of funding, and investments in media literacy starting from early education."

“But there is a way forward. And it starts with a clear understanding of what we’re up against and what solutions are needed. We must redefine our security perception—it should be not only national but also democratic, not only military but also digital, informational, and civic,” Ghazaryan concluded.

She further stressed the need to invest not just in defense systems but also in public resilience.