European Union regulators announced on Tuesday that they have initiated an investigation into whether TikTok violated the EU’s digital regulations by neglecting to address risks associated with Romania’s recent presidential election. The election in Romania has been marred by allegations of electoral fraud and meddling by Russian actors, leading to significant upheaval. The European Commission’s scrutiny of the popular video-sharing platform has intensified following the annulment of the first round of voting in Romania, where an unknown far-right candidate unexpectedly emerged as the frontrunner.
The decision to annul the election results was made by Romania’s highest court after the release of declassified documents that implicated Moscow in organizing a widespread social media campaign to boost the candidacy of Calin Georgescu, the underdog candidate. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized the seriousness of the situation, stating that there are indications of foreign interference in the Romanian election through TikTok. The investigation aims to determine whether TikTok violated the Digital Services Act by failing to address such risks, highlighting the importance of holding all online platforms accountable in the EU.
As the executive arm of the 27-nation EU, the European Commission enforces the Digital Services Act, a comprehensive set of regulations designed to regulate social media platforms and safeguard users from illicit content. Earlier this month, the Commission instructed TikTok to preserve all information related to the election, signaling its commitment to a thorough investigation. In the initial voting round on November 24, Georgescu, initially considered an outsider among 13 candidates, unexpectedly emerged as the leading contender. However, his victory was short-lived as the court nullified the results due to alleged external interference.
Declassified documents revealed an aggressive promotional campaign aimed at boosting Georgescu’s popularity, including substantial payments totaling $381,000 to TikTok influencers for promoting his candidacy on the platform. In response, TikTok asserted that it has safeguarded the integrity of its platform during more than 150 elections worldwide and is actively addressing industry-wide challenges. The platform provided the European Commission with detailed information on its efforts and reiterated its commitment to transparency and robust actions.
The investigation by the European Commission will focus on TikTok’s content recommendation systems, particularly examining risks associated with coordinated inauthentic manipulation or automated exploitation. Additionally, the Commission will scrutinize TikTok’s policies regarding political advertisements and paid political content. TikTok clarified that it does not accept paid political ads and proactively removes content that violates its misinformation policies.
The outcome of the investigation could lead to TikTok implementing corrective measures to address any identified issues, or facing fines of up to 6% of the company’s total global revenue. The European Commission’s efforts underscore the importance of upholding digital regulations and ensuring the integrity of democratic processes in the EU. The investigation into TikTok’s alleged violations serves as a reminder of the need for stringent oversight of online platforms to safeguard against external interference and protect the democratic rights of citizens.
