Romania asks EU to probe TikTok role in presidential poll

(ANSA) - ROME, NOV 29 - TikTok could come under scrutiny by the authorities in Brussels.
    Romania's national media watchdog has asked the European Commission to launch an investigation into the role played by the social media platform in the presidential elections that were surprisingly won in the first round by far-right pro-Russian candidate Călin Georgescu.
    According to the authorities in Bucharest, TikTok's algorithms amplified Georgescu's content to the detriment of other candidates.
    TikTok, which has defended its actions, is considered a "very large online platform" under the Digital Services Act (DSA), the Commission explained to the Financial Times, so "it has an obligation to assess and mitigate systemic risks related to electoral processes".
    If the Berlaymont Palace "suspects a breach based on the evidence at our disposal, it can open proceedings to verify TikTok's compliance with its obligations of the DSA", he added.
    The Romanian Supreme Council of National Defense also spoke out on the issue.
    Without naming names, it spoke of a candidate who benefited from "massive exposure based on preferential treatment by TikTok".
    "Romania has become a target for hostile actions by some states, especially Russia", the Supreme Council of Defense denounced, urging the adoption of "urgent measures".
    The Commission organized "a round table with the Romanian authorities, with the Romanian coordinators of digital services under the Digital Services Act, together with TikTok, given the current situation in Romania", a spokesperson explained, specifying that representatives of other platforms will also be present at the meeting.
    "We did it before the elections in Slovakia, the elections in Luxembourg and the European elections - he stressed - it is a common practice that we tend to do within the DSA.
    "Free and fair elections are the cornerstone of our democracies and this is also the cornerstone of the DSA". (ANSA).