As the controversy around the electoral process intensifies, the executive branch of the 27-nation EU is ramping up its examination of TikTok’s involvement. Calin Georgescu, a far-right populist, unexpectedly climbed the polls in the initial round of Romania’s presidential election set for November 24, leading to tumultuous responses within the EU and NATO member state. In a rare action, President Klaus Iohannis authorized the release of intelligence reports that point to an extensive network of thousands of social media accounts on platforms such as TikTok and Telegram, which allegedly disseminated content promoting Georgescu.
The European Commission announced the issuance of a “retention order” to TikTok, compelling the platform to “freeze and preserve data” due to potential systemic risks posed to electoral integrity and civic discourse across the EU. TikTok responded by stating it had been cooperating with the Commission and plans to continue this collaboration. The company expressed its eagerness to clarify the facts amid various speculations and inaccuracies circulating in the media.
Under the order, TikTok is required to maintain internal documents and data concerning the design and functioning of its content recommendation systems. It must also keep records showing how it addresses the risks posed by fake accounts that may be used to influence users in a coordinated manner. At a daily briefing in Brussels, officials confirmed that the Commission had received the intelligence files for review. Commission spokesman Thomas Regnier stated, “I can confirm that we have received and we are currently working on these documents now.”
Henna Virkkunen, the Commission’s executive vice-president overseeing tech sovereignty, security, and democracy, claimed that this preservation order is pivotal for investigators to ascertain the facts and complements previous requests for information related to the recent declassification of confidential documents. The Commission is utilizing the Digital Services Act to scrutinize TikTok, which many analysts believe significantly contributed to Georgescu’s prominence in the initial election phase. This Act, which commenced last year, encompasses a broad regulatory framework aimed at cleaning up major online platforms and enhancing user protection, with the threat of substantial fines for non-compliance.
“We have tools at our disposal to ensure that very large online platforms adhere to their responsibilities and do not misuse their services to sway voters and influence public opinion,” Regnier added. In the upcoming final vote, Georgescu will compete against pro-EU reformist Elena Lasconi from the Save Romania Union party.
Upon disclosing the declassified files, the intelligence community indicated they had uncovered “an aggressive promotion campaign” intended to bolster Georgescu’s visibility. The documents allegedly reveal that a TikTok user paid $381,000 to various influencers for promoting Georgescu’s content. The Commission has already approached TikTok twice for information regarding its recommendation algorithms tied to elections, including a latest request for clarification on managing risks associated with “information manipulation.”
Earlier this week, during a session with European Parliament lawmakers, TikTok executives acknowledged the identification of multiple networks attempting to sway the election, including one rooting for Georgescu, while defending the integrity of the platform’s electoral processes.
