2024-12-17 14:09:00
The social network is suspected of having failed in its obligations and of having opened the door to possible Russian manipulation in the annulment of the presidential elections in Romania.
The European Commission announced on Tuesday the opening of an investigation against the social network TikTok suspected of having failed in its obligations and opened the door to possible Russian manipulation in Romania’s canceled presidential elections.
Romanian authorities suspect that far-right candidate Calin Georgescu, who came first in the first round on November 24 to everyone’s surprise, benefited from an illicit support campaign orchestrated by Moscow, particularly on TikTok, owned by the Chinese group ByteDance. “We must protect our democracies from all forms of foreign interference”said Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, calling for action “quickly and firmly”.
TikTok, which boasts 175 million users in Europe, does not consider itself guilty and is judging “solid” its efforts against disinformation. “We continue to collaborate with the European Commission”explained a spokesperson, contacted by AFP. “We have protected the integrity of our platform during more than 150 elections around the world and continue to proactively address these common industry challenges”.
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Under pressure in the United States
The video-sharing social network is also under pressure in the United States, where Congress passed a law in April requiring ByteDance to sell TikTok by January 19 or face a ban. The text aims to prevent the risks of espionage and manipulation of users by the Chinese authorities. In the EU, the European Commission plays the role of digital policeman, under the Digital Services Regulation (DSA) which came into force on 17 February.
“Following serious indications that foreign actors interfered in the Romanian presidential election using TikTok, we are conducting a thorough investigation to determine whether (the platform) violated the Digital Services Law by failing to address these risks.”Ursula von der Leyen explained on Tuesday, without directly mentioning Russia. The investigation will focus on managing risks related to recommender systems suspected of having been misused “coordinated manipulation”. The platform’s management of “political advertising and sponsored political content”.
Declassified reports
The decision to open an investigation “takes into account information received from declassified intelligence reports of the Romanian authorities, as well as reports from third parties”Brussels specified. The Commission recalls that the DSA does not set any legal deadline for closing a formal investigation. In case of confirmed violations, the Commission can impose fines of up to 6% of its annual turnover on the offender. In case of serious and repeated violations, the platforms can also theoretically be banned from all activity in Europe.
The European Commission announced in early December that it would step up its monitoring of TikTok. He had ordered the platform “freezing and preservation” linked data “the real or foreseeable systemic risks that its service could pose for electoral processes and civic debate in the European Union”.
The investigation announced Tuesday is the third opened under the DSA. The previous one, started on February 19 and still ongoing, was focused on the protection of minors. A first procedure for the same reason was opened in November 2023 and closed this summer after TikTok’s commitments.
“Multiple irregularities”
Romanian justice annulled the presidential elections at the beginning of December, after the first round had been won by Calin Georgescu-Roegen, citing “Multiple irregularities and violations of electoral law have distorted” the vote. Out of nowhere, Calin Georgescu-Roe, whose message “Romania first” seduced a part of the population tired of traditional parties, he had swept away the favorites of the government parties. Critical of the EU and NATO, this 62-year-old former senior official has said he supports suspending military aid to Ukraine. Romanian intelligence has drawn parallels with previous Russian election interference attempts in Europe and documented them «25,000 TikTok accounts» directly associated with the campaign of Calin Georgescu-Roegen, who became “extremely active two weeks before election date”.
Moscow is regularly accused of orchestrating disinformation campaigns to defend candidates that would favor it within the EU or in neighboring countries such as Moldova or Georgia.
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