EU mulls TikTok investigation following election surprise – FT
Romania has sought a formal investigation by the EU regarding TikTok's potential influence on the results of the country's presidential election. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
The European Commission has received a complaint from Romania’s national media watchdog Ancom, calling for an investigation into TikTok's involvement in the country’s presidential election, according to a report from The Financial Times on Wednesday, which cited a written statement from Brussels.
Calin Georgescu, an anti-NATO presidential candidate critical of arming Ukraine, has recently gained notable traction, surprising mainstream candidates with his strong performance in the first round of the election held last Sunday. TikTok was reportedly a significant factor in his campaign communications strategy.
As a “very large online platform” under the EU’s Digital Services Act, the Chinese-owned social media company is required to “assess and mitigate systemic risks related to electoral processes.”
“If the commission suspects a violation based on the evidence available to us, it may open a proceeding to verify TikTok’s compliance with the DSA obligations,” officials in Brussels informed the FT.
Ancom stated on Tuesday that it would raise the issue with the EU, claiming TikTok had “not acted swiftly” on its election-related requests.
Additionally, the EU regulator’s vice-president, Valentin-Alexandru Jucan, suggested that the platform may have “amplified” Georgescu’s content.
In response to the allegations, TikTok has refuted all claims, declaring, “Reports about the Romanian elections are inaccurate and misleading, as most candidates have established a TikTok presence and the winners campaigned on other digital platforms beyond ours.”
The second round of the Romanian presidential election is set for December 8, where Georgescu, who received nearly 23% of the votes, will compete against Elena Lasconi, the candidate from the liberal Save Romania Union party, who secured just over 19% in the first round.
Georgescu’s surprising rise has come as a shock to Romania, as he had been polling in the single digits shortly before the election. A former member of the right-wing populist Alliance for the Union of Romanians party, he ran as an independent and based his campaign largely on TikTok.
Following the election outcome, various allegations have surfaced regarding his campaign. For example, Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu claimed that Georgescu’s online campaign might have exceeded national spending limits and that “foreign funding” could not be ruled out. In response, Georgescu dismissed the accusations, asserting that he spent “zero” funds on his campaign, with all efforts managed by volunteers.
Romania’s Supreme Defense Council, the country's top security body, is scheduled to convene on Thursday to discuss the election and assess “possible risks to national security generated by the actions of state and non-state cyber parties.” This meeting was announced by the office of Romania’s outgoing president, Klaus Iohannis, who leads the council.
Camille Lefevre contributed to this report for TROIB News
Calin Georgescu, an anti-NATO presidential candidate critical of arming Ukraine, has recently gained notable traction, surprising mainstream candidates with his strong performance in the first round of the election held last Sunday. TikTok was reportedly a significant factor in his campaign communications strategy.
As a “very large online platform” under the EU’s Digital Services Act, the Chinese-owned social media company is required to “assess and mitigate systemic risks related to electoral processes.”
“If the commission suspects a violation based on the evidence available to us, it may open a proceeding to verify TikTok’s compliance with the DSA obligations,” officials in Brussels informed the FT.
Ancom stated on Tuesday that it would raise the issue with the EU, claiming TikTok had “not acted swiftly” on its election-related requests.
Additionally, the EU regulator’s vice-president, Valentin-Alexandru Jucan, suggested that the platform may have “amplified” Georgescu’s content.
In response to the allegations, TikTok has refuted all claims, declaring, “Reports about the Romanian elections are inaccurate and misleading, as most candidates have established a TikTok presence and the winners campaigned on other digital platforms beyond ours.”
The second round of the Romanian presidential election is set for December 8, where Georgescu, who received nearly 23% of the votes, will compete against Elena Lasconi, the candidate from the liberal Save Romania Union party, who secured just over 19% in the first round.
Georgescu’s surprising rise has come as a shock to Romania, as he had been polling in the single digits shortly before the election. A former member of the right-wing populist Alliance for the Union of Romanians party, he ran as an independent and based his campaign largely on TikTok.
Following the election outcome, various allegations have surfaced regarding his campaign. For example, Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu claimed that Georgescu’s online campaign might have exceeded national spending limits and that “foreign funding” could not be ruled out. In response, Georgescu dismissed the accusations, asserting that he spent “zero” funds on his campaign, with all efforts managed by volunteers.
Romania’s Supreme Defense Council, the country's top security body, is scheduled to convene on Thursday to discuss the election and assess “possible risks to national security generated by the actions of state and non-state cyber parties.” This meeting was announced by the office of Romania’s outgoing president, Klaus Iohannis, who leads the council.
Camille Lefevre contributed to this report for TROIB News
