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Politico: EU opens investigation into TikTok over Romanian election
Politico - EU opens investigation into TikTok over Romanian election
EU to probe platform’s protections against foreign interference and election meddling.
December 17, 2024 11:45 am CET
By Eliza Gkritsi
The European Commission launched a formal investigation into TikTok on Tuesday over the app's handling of election-related content.
TikTok's alleged violation of the Digital Services Act follows accusations from Romanian authorities of "irregularities" on its platform, after the shock victory of ultranationalist, pro-Russia candidate Călin Georgescu in the first round of Romania's presidential election end-November. Romania's top court later annulled the election.
"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," said Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in a statement — a rare public comment from the EU chief on such an investigation.
The Commission will specifically investigate TikTok's recommender systems for "coordinated inauthentic manipulation or automated exploitation of the service," as well as the platform's policies on political ads and paid political content, the Commission said in a press release.
Research from local and international organizations has pointed to influencer campaigns and bots propping up Georgescu on the app that were not properly addressed.
/snip
EU to probe platform’s protections against foreign interference and election meddling.
December 17, 2024 11:45 am CET
By Eliza Gkritsi
The European Commission launched a formal investigation into TikTok on Tuesday over the app's handling of election-related content.
TikTok's alleged violation of the Digital Services Act follows accusations from Romanian authorities of "irregularities" on its platform, after the shock victory of ultranationalist, pro-Russia candidate Călin Georgescu in the first round of Romania's presidential election end-November. Romania's top court later annulled the election.
"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," said Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in a statement — a rare public comment from the EU chief on such an investigation.
The Commission will specifically investigate TikTok's recommender systems for "coordinated inauthentic manipulation or automated exploitation of the service," as well as the platform's policies on political ads and paid political content, the Commission said in a press release.
Research from local and international organizations has pointed to influencer campaigns and bots propping up Georgescu on the app that were not properly addressed.
/snip