The EU is investigating TikTok over alleged Russian interference in the Romanian vote

The European Union’s executive branch has launched a formal investigation into TikTok over “serious indications” of foreign interference in Romania’s recent presidential election using the video-sharing platform.

The second round of voting was canceled earlier this month after declassified intelligence documents revealed that 25,000 TikTok accounts were suddenly activated just weeks before polls opened in the first round.

The accounts supported independent candidate Calin Georgescu, a largely unknown far-right campaigner who described Russia’s Vladimir Putin as “a patriot and a leader”, although he denied being a supporter.

President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said that democracies must be protected from foreign interference.

EU regulators will assess whether TikTok’s advertising policies and the systems it uses to recommend content to users breach the Digital Services Act (DSA), which aims to prevent the spread of misinformation and stop illegal online activity.

“Whenever we suspect such interference, especially during elections, we must act quickly and firmly,” said von der Leyen.

“It must be absolutely clear that in the EU all online platforms, including TikTok, must be held accountable.”

Georgescu’s election campaign focused mainly on TikTok, and while Moscow denies interference, Romanian intelligence said Russia had identified the NATO member state as an enemy state and a priority target.

TikToks promoting the candidate were not marked as electoral content, which is illegal in Romania.

One account paid $381,000 (£300,000) to post to Georgescu, who denied spending money on the platform.

TikTok vehemently denies the allegations, insisting that “the claim that (Giorgescu’s) account was treated differently than any other candidate’s account” is flatly false.

Although the platform allows the posting and organic distribution of election content, paid political advertising is prohibited.

After the second-round vote was canceled, TikTok said that “when the Romanian authorities approached us to flag a number of videos without identifiers… we took action on those videos within 24 hours.”

Part of the EU investigation will look at the risks associated with the “automated exploitation” of TikTok’s algorithm, which provides tailored content on a user’s “For You” page based on their interests and how they interact with the app.

It will also assess TikTok’s policy on political advertising.

On December 5, the EU ordered TikTok to keep internal documents on how it recommended content to users and any methods it had in place to mitigate “deliberate manipulation” of its platform.

This includes content related to any EU national election from 24 November 2024. until March 31, 2025, including in Romania, Ireland and Croatia.

The EU said it would investigate “as a matter of priority”.

It runs alongside a separate investigation into a possible violation of TikTok’s DSA regarding harmful content and protection of minors.

After the first round of Romania’s presidential election, Romanian intelligence said Georgescu’s sudden surge in popularity was linked to a “highly organized” and “guerrilla” social media campaign from accounts that sent identical messages.

Before the second round was cancelled, he faced the reformist candidate Alena Lasconi.

Georgescu advocated the end of political and military aid to Ukraine.

He is a conspiracy theorist who does not believe in the moon landing or the Covid-19 pandemic.