The European Commission has announced a heightened level of scrutiny on TikTok to ensure its adherence to the Digital Services Act (DSA) amid ongoing Romanian elections. This initiative, unveiled on Thursday, directly addresses concerns about potential “systemic risks” the platform might pose to electoral processes and civic discourse within the European Union, as highlighted in the official statement released by the Commission.
The order mandates TikTok to retain all pertinent information that could unveil risks connected to election manipulation and civic engagement. This move allows the European Commission the authority to safeguard evidence pertinent to future investigations into TikTok’s compliance with the DSA, including its strategies to curb intentional content manipulation and the monetization of politically charged content.
The recent directive was largely influenced by disclosures from the Romanian government, pointing to Russian interference in Romania’s electoral proceedings. President Klaus Iohannis shared insights from the Romanian Intelligence Service, indicating possible Russian influence over the campaign of Calin Georgescu, a leading candidate known for his pro-Putin stance and contentious views on the Ukraine conflict. The Romanian Constitutional Court has validated the first round of election results, despite claims of election fraud tied to TikTok’s coverage of Georgescu’s campaign. These issues amplify the importance of the Commission’s oversight efforts.
This is not the Commission’s first engagement with TikTok under the DSA, having previously requested information earlier this year. As the second round of Romania’s contentious elections approaches on December 8, further discussions are anticipated during the upcoming meetings of the European Board for Digital Services Coordinators, aiming to solidify the necessary course of action.
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