The European Commission has launched a formal investigation into TikTok following allegations that the platform was used by foreign actors to interfere in Romania’s recent presidential elections. (Financial Times)
The probe was initiated after Romania’s national media watchdog reported that pro-Russian candidate Călin Georgescu gained unexpected popularity on TikTok, leading to his unforeseen success in the first round of voting. Romanian authorities suspect that Moscow orchestrated this interference, prompting the annulment of the election’s second round by the country’s top court.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated, “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.”
The investigation will assess TikTok’s risk management strategies, particularly concerning its content recommendation systems and policies on political advertising. If found in violation of the Digital Services Act, TikTok could face fines up to 6% of its global annual revenue.
In response, TikTok has defended its efforts to combat disinformation, highlighting its proactive measures in monitoring over 150 elections globally. The company stated, “We do not accept paid political advertisements, we proactively remove content for violating … , and hate speech, and continue … .”
This investigation underscores the European Union’s commitment to safeguarding electoral integrity and holding online platforms accountable for preventing foreign interference in democratic processes.
