The Commission’s action follows an alarming and unexpected victory of far-right, Pro Russian candidate, Calin Georgescu, in Romania’s first round of presidential elections.
Georgescu’s ultra-nationalist rhetoric and pro-Russian stance stand in stark contrast to Romania’s traditional pro-EU alignment. His massive social media campaign preceding the elections, which earned him the title of “TikTok Messiah”, has raised concerns about the platform’s role in influencing public opinion.
The Commission clarified that its action targets systemic risks linked to TikTok’s platform under the DSA and does not directly intervene in Romania’s electoral process, which remains the responsibility of Romanian authorities and voters.
The EU has also demanded the preservation of internal documents related to:
- The design and operation of TikTok’s recommender systems.
- How TikTok mitigates risks of manipulation through coordinated inauthentic activity.
- Alleged violations of its own terms of service, particularly regarding the use of monetization tools for political promotion.
This is one of the first high-profile applications of the DSA, which regulates major tech platforms operating in the EU.
The retention period will span from November 24, 2024, to March 31, 2025, encompassing elections across the EU.
EU concerns about foreign interference in democratic processes are not limited to Romania. The retention order against TikTok signals a broader effort to safeguard electoral integrity across member states
“We ordered TikTok today to freeze and preserve all data and evidence linked to the Romanian elections, but also for upcoming elections in the EU, said Henna Virkkunen, the Commission’s Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy. “This preservation order is a key step in helping investigators establish the facts and adds to our formal requests for information which seek information following the declassification of secret documents yesterday. We are also intensifying contacts with digital and cyber regulators across Europe in light of emerging evidence of systematic inauthentic activity. I am committed to diligent and robust enforcement of the Digital Services Act,” she noted.
According to Reuters, a TikTok spokesperson reiterated the company’s commitment to cooperating with the EU and ensuring compliance with the DSA, stating, “We look forward to establishing the facts in light of some of the speculation and inaccurate reports we have seen.”
