The European Union has taken a significant step to address concerns about potential foreign interference in Romania’s recent elections. On Thursday, EU officials ordered the social media platform TikTok to freeze data linked to the ongoing electoral process, marking a notable enforcement of the bloc’s stringent Digital Services Act (DSA). The DSA, which aims to regulate how major social media firms operate within the European market, provides the EU with a powerful tool to oversee online activities that could affect democratic processes.
The order comes amid rising alarm over the influence of social media platforms on Romania’s presidential elections, particularly following the first-round victory of pro-Russia ultranationalist Calin Georgescu. The candidate, who surged ahead in the November 24 contest, has drawn scrutiny due to his ties with Russia and his controversial stance on Romania’s international relations. Georgescu, who has openly criticized Romania’s pro-European Union orientation, has vowed to reverse the country’s pro-EU policies if he wins the runoff election on Sunday, December 10.
Concerns over Georgescu’s rise were amplified this week with the release of declassified documents by Romanian security officials. The documents revealed that Georgescu’s campaign had benefited significantly from promotion on TikTok through coordinated accounts, recommendation algorithms, and paid advertisements. Despite these findings, Georgescu claimed that no funds were spent on his campaign, leading some to question the legitimacy of his social media-driven surge.
U.S. officials have expressed growing concern about the potential for foreign interference in Romania’s elections, with particular emphasis on Russia’s role in the digital sphere. Romanian security sources have suggested that the country has been the target of “aggressive hybrid Russian attacks,” with state-backed actors allegedly using online platforms to sway public opinion. Russia, however, has denied any involvement in the election process, rejecting claims of interference.
TikTok, which is owned by the Chinese company ByteDance, has come under increasing scrutiny in recent months from both the EU and the United States. The platform’s vast user base and powerful recommendation algorithms have raised concerns over the potential for foreign actors to influence elections, particularly in countries like Romania, which lies at the intersection of Eastern European politics and Russian influence.
The European Commission’s retention order requires TikTok to preserve data related to the Romanian election, providing EU authorities with the ability to investigate the platform’s role in the spread of political content and potential foreign influence. This move highlights the EU’s growing commitment to safeguarding democratic processes in an era of rapid technological change, where social media can play a pivotal role in shaping public opinion.
Should Georgescu win the presidential race in Sunday’s runoff, experts warn that Romania could shift towards a more isolationist foreign policy, distancing itself from the EU and potentially realigning with Russia. Such a shift would have far-reaching implications for the stability of the region and could undermine the EU’s efforts to counter Russian influence in Eastern Europe.
The EU’s order for TikTok to freeze data related to the Romanian elections underscores the bloc’s increasing vigilance over the role of social media platforms in democratic processes. As the digital landscape continues to evolve, the EU is likely to strengthen its regulatory framework to ensure that foreign interference, whether through social media or other channels, does not undermine the integrity of elections across its member states.
