Tech news today highlights a developing story as the European Commission takes formal action against TikTok, investigating the platform’s role in potential election interference during Romania’s recent presidential election.
Election Integrity Under Scrutiny
The European Commission announced Tuesday that it has opened formal proceedings against TikTok, owned by Chinese tech giant ByteDance. The probe centers around allegations that the platform failed to curb election interference during Romania’s presidential election, where pro-Russia candidate Calin Georgescu secured a contentious first-round victory.
Romania’s top court annulled the election amid accusations of Russian meddling, prompting the EU to act swiftly. The investigation will assess TikTok’s policies on political advertisements, paid political content, and the algorithms driving its recommendation systems, which may have been vulnerable to manipulation.
A Response to Digital Services Act Violations
On December 5, the European Commission ordered TikTok to freeze data related to the Romanian election under the recently implemented Digital Services Act (DSA). This groundbreaking legislation aims to regulate major tech companies’ operations in Europe, ensuring transparency and accountability, especially during sensitive events like elections.
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, emphasized the importance of safeguarding democratic processes.
“We must protect our democracies from any kind of foreign interference. Whenever we suspect such interference, especially during elections, we have to act swiftly and firmly,” von der Leyen said in a statement.
TikTok’s Defense
In response, TikTok highlighted its commitment to election integrity, stating that it had supported over 150 elections worldwide. The platform asserted that it does not accept paid political advertisements and actively removes content violating its misinformation and hate speech policies. TikTok has pledged full cooperation with the EU’s investigation.
Broader Implications for European Elections
This investigation is not just about Romania. The European Commission is keenly aware of the potential for interference in other upcoming elections, including Germany’s parliamentary election in February and Croatia’s presidential vote later this month.
While there is no set timeline for concluding the investigation, the EU’s actions signal a commitment to holding tech platforms accountable in preserving the integrity of democratic systems.
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