A top EU lawmaker is demanding that TikTok’s CEO appear before the European Parliament to answer questions about the platform’s involvement in the surprising victory of a far-right candidate in Romania’s presidential election. The victory of ultranationalist and pro-Russian Călin Georgescu in the first round has raised concerns about the political direction of the country and has sparked investigations into the role of TikTok in promoting an unknown candidate. Researchers have discovered covert activity on thousands of fake accounts leading up to the election, prompting calls for accountability and regulation of online content under Europe’s Digital Services Act.
Valérie Hayer, the head of the liberal Renew Europe group, has called on the CEO of TikTok to address the European Parliament and ensure that the platform did not violate the DSA. Hayer emphasized that the situation in Romania serves as a warning for the rest of Europe regarding the dangers of radicalization and disinformation. The unexpected success of Georgescu, who lacked party backing and was underestimated by polls, has been linked to a major TikTok campaign orchestrated by him and an army of fake accounts. Bogdan Manolea, executive director of the Romanian campaign group Association for Technology and Internet, accused TikTok of being misused and called for the company to take responsibility for the wave of fake accounts that were used for political purposes.
While there is currently no evidence of involvement by Russia or other state actors, TikTok is facing scrutiny for its role in the Romanian elections. The platform’s terms and conditions prohibit paid political advertising, but this rule was effectively bypassed during the campaign. Keith Kiely, coordinator for the Bulgarian Romanian Observatory on Digital Media, highlighted TikTok’s significant influence in the elections. This is not the first time TikTok has faced criticism in the EU, as French President Emmanuel Macron previously labeled the platform as “deceptively innocent” and a cause of addiction among users.
TikTok has denied any wrongdoing, stating that the reports about its involvement in the Romanian elections are inaccurate and misleading. The company claims that most candidates had a TikTok presence and that the winners utilized other digital platforms for their campaigns. TikTok had set up an election center within the app to provide reliable information and partnered with a local NGO to combat disinformation and enhance digital literacy.
In conclusion, the alleged role of TikTok in the shocking outcome of the Romanian presidential election has prompted calls for accountability and regulation. The CEO of TikTok has been summoned to the European Parliament to address concerns about the platform’s involvement and potential violation of the Digital Services Act. This scandal serves as a warning for Europe about the dangers of radicalization and disinformation in the digital age.