The European Union (EU) has launched an investigation into the Chinese social media platform TikTok following accusations that it was used by Russia to influence the results of the first round of the Romanian presidential elections, which was won by a Moscow-friendly candidate.
The independent and relatively unknown candidate, Călin Georgescu, achieved a surprising victory in the first round of voting on November 24, securing around 23 percent of the votes. He was expected to face pro-European candidate Elena Lasconi in the runoff on December 8.
However, after Romania’s National Security Council released classified documents pointing to a “state actor” (widely believed to be Russia), the country’s Constitutional Court annulled the first round and ordered a full re-run of the elections in the coming months.
As a result, the term of the current president, Klaus Iohannis, was extended, although his second five-year term was set to end this month.
“Following serious indications that foreign actors interfered in the Romanian presidential elections via TikTok, we are now thoroughly investigating whether TikTok has violated the Digital Services Act by failing to address these risks,” said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on December 17.
She explained that the Commission would continue collecting evidence “for example, by sending further information requests, conducting monitoring actions, interviews, inspections, and seeking access to algorithms.”
Meanwhile, the EU ordered TikTok on December 5 to freeze and preserve data related to “current or foreseeable systematic risks” connected to national elections in the 27-member bloc from November 24 through March of the following year.
TikTok is now required to provide data and documents held in compliance with the December 5 order, von der Leyen said.
This action follows a statement from a group of senior U.S. senators condemning the suspected Russian interference in the Romanian elections.
“Vladimir Putin’s attack on the elections in Romania is another example of the hybrid warfare he is waging against our European allies and partners,” said U.S. Senators Pete Ricketts (Republican from Nebraska), Ben Cardin (Democrat from Maryland), Jim Risch (Republican from Idaho), and Jeanne Shaheen (Democrat from New Hampshire) in a statement.
“As a strong NATO ally, we support Romania’s efforts to safeguard the integrity of its elections. We condemn Vladimir Putin’s manipulation via TikTok, which is controlled by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), to undermine the democratic process in Romania,” the senators added.
