Some researchers have alleged that fake accounts or paid influencers were deployed to boost the account of ultranationalist pro-Russian candidate Călin Georgescu, who surged to victory in Sunday’s first round of voting in Romania’s presidential election. Georgescu’s content reached high view counts on the video-sharing app in the campaign’s final stretch.
TikTok has repeatedly said it has found no evidence of any covert influence operation.
The Commission also wants to know how TikTok gives NGOs and researchers access to the data needed to scrutinize election risks. A group of Romania-based NGOs had asked for more transparency in an open letter.
The platform has two weeks to respond to the questions. The deadline falls after the Romanian parliamentary election, taking place this Sunday, and the second round of the presidential elections, scheduled for Dec. 8.
Earlier this week, the Romanian audiovisual regulator asked the European Commission to open a probe into TikTok over the election.
The current line of questioning doesn’t yet amount to a full-on probe.
