Recent events surrounding the Romanian presidential election have turned international scrutiny toward TikTok, prompting the European Commission to launch an investigation. This inquiry follows alarming claims of foreign interference during the elections—an increasingly significant concern within the EU.
Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, confirmed the probe, emphasizing the severity of foreign actors potentially manipulating democratic processes. “Whenever we suspect such interference, especially around elections, we must act swiftly and decisively,” von der Leyen stated, highlighting the imperative to shield democracies from outside meddling.
At the heart of this investigation lies the controversial figure of Calin Georgescu, the pro-Russian candidate who unexpectedly led the first round of voting. His campaign strategy heavily relied on TikTok, raising major questions about the platform’s role and responsibility. Following the first round results, both Georgescu and his tactics drew scrutiny from the office of outgoing Romanian President Klaus Iohannis, who lamented Georgescu’s significant success was due to his extensive reach on TikTok.
Reports from intelligence agencies outlined both “manipulated” influencers and cyber attacks, with suggestions pointing to Romania’s status as a target of aggressive Russian interest. The Supreme Court of Romania responded emphatically by nullifying the first round of the presidential elections, and ordering a repeat of the event—this time, the dates remain to be determined.
The core of this investigation will involve examining TikTok’s recommendation algorithms to see if they gave Georgescu an unfair competitive edge. Questions will also focus on TikTok’s handling of political advertising, which is strictly regulated under EU laws. For platforms like TikTok, Facebook, and others, compliance with the Digital Services Act is non-negotiable; violations can lead to penalties, including fines amounting to 6% of their annual revenue.
What’s more, the EU Commission could impose daily fines, keeping the pressure on the app until it rectifies any identified issues. Despite the gravity of the allegations, TikTok has responded firmly, stating it maintains the integrity of its platform across various elections globally. A spokesperson claimed, “We do not accept paid political advertisements, and we actively remove content violating our misinformation and hate speech policies.” TikTok insists it remains committed to cooperating with EU authorities to address their concerns.
With both the investigation underway and the political atmosphere still charged with uncertainty, the outcome of both the election and the inquiry could have lasting ramifications—not only for Romanian democracy but for the operational rules governing social media platforms around the world. The important question now hangs: can platforms like TikTok safeguard the integrity of democratic processes against the forces of misinformation and foreign interference?
