The European Commission announced on Tuesday that it is investigating TikTok to determine whether the social media platform violated the Digital Services Act (DSA) amid suspicions of
Russian interference in Romania’s recently canceled presidential election.
Allegations of foreign influence
Romanian authorities suspect that far-right, pro-Russian candidate Călin Georgescu benefited from an illegal support campaign, particularly on TikTok. Georgescu, 62, unexpectedly won the first round of Romania's presidential election on November 24, an election that was subsequently annulled.
“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 European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in a press release.
Georgescu, known for his anti-EU and anti-NATO rhetoric, has advocated for halting all military aid to Ukraine. Authorities suspect Russian involvement in his surprise victory. Romanian intelligence services identified parallels with previous Russian interference in European elections, linking 25,000 TikTok accounts to Georgescu’s campaign. These accounts reportedly became “extremely active” in the two weeks leading up to the election.
Potential breach of the Digital Services Act
The European Commission’s investigation will focus on whether TikTok breached the Digital Services Act, particularly regarding the platform's management of election-related risks. The investigation will examine:
Coordinated Manipulation: Whether TikTok's algorithm and referral systems were exploited for political manipulation.
Political Advertising: How the platform managed political ads and sponsored content.
Consequences for TikTok
If found in violation of the Digital Services Act, TikTok could face fines of up to 6% of its annual global turnover. For severe and repeated breaches, the Chinese-owned platform could even be banned from operating within the EU.
The investigation highlights growing concerns about the role of social media in election interference and the enforcement of regulations under the Digital Services Act.