EU Orders TikTok to Retain Data Amid Alleged Russian Interference Boosting Pro-Russian Candidate in Romania Election

Dec 5, 2024, 11:06 AM

Reports have emerged suggesting that TikTok has removed several influence campaigns during Romania's elections, including 66,000 fake accounts and 10 million fake followers. TikTok testified before the European Parliament about its election integrity measures, and EU lawmakers have expressed concerns over the platform's role in the Romanian election. Declassified documents from Romania's Supreme Council for National Defense and intelligence services indicate aggressive hybrid attacks aimed at promoting the far-right, pro-Russian candidate Calin Georgescu, who won the first round of the presidential election. The Romanian Intelligence Service found 797 TikTok accounts created in 2016 for Georgescu, preserved and activated during the campaign. Georgescu has made statements about ending military aid to Ukraine if elected. The European Union has ordered TikTok to retain data related to potential risks to the electoral process under the Digital Services Act, demanding the platform preserve data until March 2025. The United States has expressed concern over foreign interference in Romania's elections, with State Department spokesman Matthew Miller highlighting the need to maintain the integrity of the democratic process. TikTok has stated that it collaborated with Romanian authorities and removed networks of fake accounts linked to election interference.