EU investigates TikTok over alleged interference in Romanian election
On Tuesday, the European Commission announced it is investigating the social network TikTok. The investigation will determine if the social network broke the Digital Services Act, following suspicions of Russian interference in the cancelled presidential election in Romania.
Romanian authorities suspect that the far-right, pro-Russian candidate Calin Georgescu benefited from an illegal support campaign, particularly on TikTok. The 62-year-old came out of nowhere to win the first round of Romania's presidential election on 24 November, which were later cancelled.
Foreign interference
"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", said Commission president Ursula von der Leyen in a press release on Tuesday.
Georgescu, 62, is a critic of the EU and NATO and has called for a total halt to military aid to Ukraine. The authorities therefore suspect that Russia is behind Georgescu's victory. The election was later annulled and will be held again at a later date.
Romanian intelligence services drew parallels with previous Russian efforts to interfere in European elections, identifying "25,000 TikTok accounts" directly linked to Mr Georgescu's campaign, which became "extremely active two weeks before the election date".
DSA breach
The Commission will investigate whether TikTok has breached the EU's Digital Services Act, focusing on TikTok's management of election-related risks. For one, its referral systems are suspected of being used for "coordinated manipulation". It will also examine the platform's management of "political advertising and sponsored political content".
If found guilty, it could impose fines of up to 6 per cent of TikTok's annual turnover. In the case of serious and repeated infringements, the Chinese-owned platform could even be banned from operating in the EU.
Far-right presidential candidate Calin Georgescu. PHOTO © Daniel MIHAILESCU / AFP
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