The European Commission has initiated a formal investigation into TikTok over allegations of violating the Digital Services Act (DSA) by enabling foreign interference in Romania’s recent presidential elections. Intelligence reports reveal that tens of thousands of TikTok accounts were suddenly activated in the weeks leading up to the first round of voting, coinciding with a surprising surge in support for Calin Georgescu, a little-known independent candidate with pro-Putin sympathies. This prompted the courts to annul the second round of voting, citing concerns over the integrity of the electoral process.

The investigation will scrutinize TikTok’s handling of political ads, paid political content, and the potential misuse of its recommendation algorithms for coordinated inauthentic behavior. A key concern is whether TikTok adequately flagged election-related content and mitigated risks of manipulation, especially content promoting Georgescu that reportedly violated local transparency laws. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized the importance of protecting democracy from foreign interference and holding platforms accountable under EU law. If TikTok is found to have breached DSA regulations, it could face fines of up to 6% of its global revenue.

This inquiry adds to TikTok’s growing regulatory challenges, as it has faced significant fines in the US, UK, and EU for various infractions, including a €345 million penalty in 2023 for mishandling child user data under GDPR. The current probe underscores increasing scrutiny on social media platforms’ roles in safeguarding democratic processes and the urgent need for compliance with evolving digital regulations.

Phil Muncaster’s article, European Commission Opens TikTok Election Integrity Probe, published in Infosecurity Magazine, provides insights into the investigation. You can read it here.