LONDON — European Union officials announced on Tuesday that they are looking into whether TikTok has violated EU regulations by not adequately addressing risks associated with Romania’s presidential election, which has come under scrutiny due to allegations of electoral misconduct and interference from Russia.
The European Commission is intensifying its examination of the widely-used video-sharing platform following Romania’s highest court’s decision to nullify the results of the initial voting round, which had an unexpected far-right candidate rise to prominence. This unprecedented ruling came after officials from the EU and NATO member Romania released documents claiming that Moscow orchestrated a substantial social media operation aimed at boosting the campaign of the relatively unknown candidate, Calin Georgescu.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized in a press statement, “In light of serious indications that foreign entities have meddled in the Romanian presidential elections through TikTok, we are launching a thorough investigation to assess whether TikTok has violated the Digital Services Act by not addressing these risks.” She underscored the necessity for accountability among online platforms within the EU.
As the executive body of the 27-nation EU, the European Commission enforces the Digital Services Act, which encompasses a broad spectrum of regulations designed to enhance the safety of social media platforms and shield users from dangers like misinformation related to elections. Earlier this month, the Commission instructed TikTok to preserve all data relevant to the election.
During the preliminary voting round on November 24, Georgescu initially appeared to be a long shot among 13 candidates but unexpectedly secured the top position in the polls. He was set to confront a pro-EU reformist opponent in a runoff, but the court’s cancellation disrupted these plans.
The released documents alleged that a significant promotional effort, involving payments totaling approximately $381,000, was made to TikTok influencers to elevate Georgescu’s profile on the platform.
In its defense, TikTok asserted that it has ensured the integrity of its platform during over 150 elections globally and remains committed to tackling these systemic challenges. “We have provided the European Commission with comprehensive information concerning our efforts and have openly shared our robust actions,” the company stated.
The investigation will primarily examine TikTok’s content recommendation mechanisms, particularly concerning risks stemming from “coordinated deceptive practices or automated exploitation.” The Commission is also scrutinizing TikTok’s guidelines related to political advertisements and “paid political content.” TikTok clarified that it does not permit paid political advertising and actively removes content that violates its misinformation policies.
As a result of this inquiry, TikTok may need to implement adjustments to rectify any identified issues or face fines amounting to 6% of its total global revenue.
