EU Investigates TikTok for Romanian Election Interference

On Dec. 16, the European Commission launched a TikTok investigation for permitting involvement in the Nov. 24 Romanian presidential elections, violating the EU's Digital Services Act, according to CNN.

“We must protect our democracies from any kind of foreign interference,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated. “Whenever we suspect such interference, especially during elections, we have to act swiftly and firmly.”

The Romanian Supreme Court overturned the first-round presidential election results, which favored TikTok-based candidate Calin Georgescu. The EU asked TikTok to freeze election-related data, indicating an inquiry.

Outgoing Romanian President Klaus Iohannis declassified intelligence records that revealed Russia promoted Georgescu, a known EU skeptic who called Putin a real leader and hero.

Romania's Take

Romanian intelligence claimed to have uncovered evidence of a hostile campaign endorsing Georgescu, with one user paying $381,000 to do so.

Georgescu had single digits in his polls before he started his TikTok campaign. With 22,95% of the vote, Georgescu's independent candidacy was successful.

At 19.17% and 19.15% of the vote, respectively, Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu of the Social Democratic Party and Save Romania Union leader Elena Lasconi were right behind him.

Foreign meddling might impact the U.S.-Romania security cooperation treaty, according to the U.S. State Department, which voiced its concerns over the report's declassification.

DOS's Claim

TikTok's algorithm's “inauthentic manipulation or automated exploitation” and ad policies will be investigated by the European Commission under Europe's Digital Services Act, which requires social media platforms “to properly assess and mitigate systemic risks linked to election integrity.”

“Following serious indications that foreign actors interfered in the Romanian presidential elections by using TikTok, we are now thoroughly investigating whether TikTok has violated the Digital Services Act by failing to tackle such risks,” von der Leyen stated.

“It should be crystal clear that in the EU, all online platforms, including TikTok, must be held accountable.”

So far, TikTok's proprietary algorithm has been kept under wraps, but the Commission has stated that it will seek access to it in order to further gather evidence.