TikTok Faces Scrutiny Over Role in Romanian Presidential Election

EU lawmakers question TikTok's election integrity as far-right candidate's unexpected rise raises concerns of interference and algorithmic bias.

Far-right candidate Călin Georgescu's surprise first-round victory in Romania's presidential election has sparked investigations into TikTok's role in amplifying his campaign.
TikTok executives testified before the European Parliament, defending their election integrity measures, including the deployment of 95 Romanian content moderators and collaboration with local authorities.
The platform removed multiple networks of accounts, including two small Romanian-based groups promoting candidates and a Kremlin-linked campaign tied to Russian media outlet Sputnik.
Experts suspect Georgescu's TikTok following was artificially inflated, with allegations of fake accounts, algorithmic bias, and unmarked political content boosting his visibility.
The European Commission is investigating TikTok's compliance with the EU's Digital Services Act, with potential penalties including fines or a ban in Europe if violations are confirmed.