The European Union has opened a formal proceeding against TikTok, focusing on election risks in the context of recent elections in Romania. This development follows a data retention order issued by the EU earlier this month due to concerns about election interference on the short-video platform.
Election Security Risks and Investigation
The probe will concentrate on TikTok’s recommender systems, specifically "risks linked to the coordinated inauthentic manipulation or automated exploitation of the service." The EU will also examine TikTok’s policies on political advertisements and paid-for political content. According to the Commission, one of the suspicions being investigated is whether TikTok has diligently mitigated the risks posed by specific regional and linguistic aspects of national elections.
The move follows a data retention order covering national elections in the EU spanning more than four months – from November 24 until March 31, 2025. This underscores the scope of the Commission’s alarm as it works to enforce the Digital Services Act (DSA) on major platforms.
Consequences of Non-Compliance
Failure to assess and mitigate risks may lead to penalties of up to 6% of global turnover for larger platforms like TikTok. While no DSA fines have been issued yet, TikTok agreed to product changes in the summer that closed an earlier Commission investigation into addictive design concerns.
Declassified Intelligence Reports
In the case of the electoral process in Romania, declassified documents from multiple government agencies suggest TikTok failed to prevent fake accounts from being used to artificially boost and algorithmically amplify content promoting a pro-Russian, far-right candidate in the first round of voting for the presidency. The country’s top court has since annulled the result.
TikTok’s Response
TikTok spokesman Elliott Burton sent a statement claiming that "We’ve protected the integrity of our platform through over 150 elections around the world." The company also suggests it detected and disrupted five small covert networks targeting the Romanian election, publishing details of what it found. It claims to have removed hundreds of thousands of fake accounts and millions of fake likes and followers.
Background on Digital Services Act (DSA)
The DSA aims to regulate digital services and ensure a safe online environment for users. The EU has been working to implement this legislation, which will require large platforms to be more transparent about their algorithms and moderation practices.
Related Articles
- TikTok Faces Scrutiny Over Election Interference
- EU Opens Investigation into TikTok’s Role in Romanian Elections
- TikTok’s Election Interference Raises Concerns About Social Media Regulation
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