The European Commission has launched formal proceedings against TikTok over potential violations of the Digital Services Act (DSA), prompted by evidence of interference in Romania’s recent presidential election. The investigation aims to determine if the platform failed to comply with EU regulations.
The Romanian presidential election, held on November 24, saw an unexpected first-round victory by Călin Georgescu, an independent nationalist and Eurosceptic. However, the election was annulled after the country’s Constitutional Court received proof of foreign meddling, particularly via TikTok, as disclosed by Romanian intelligence services.
The Commission’s concerns focus on TikTok’s recommendation algorithm and its political advertising system, which should clearly label such content. This marks the beginning of an investigation into whether TikTok breached the DSA, with the potential for a fine of up to 6% of its global revenue if found non-compliant.
“We have to act swiftly and firmly,” said Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission. “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. It should be crystal clear that in the EU, all online platforms, including TikTok, must be held accountable.”
The Commission has raised concerns about the sudden surge in content promoting Georgescu, suspecting that it may have been amplified by bots and fake accounts.
At the end of November, the Commission requested information from TikTok regarding measures it had taken to minimize algorithmic bias during the election, marking the initial phase of the investigation. The deadline for TikTok’s response was last Friday.
