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".
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