TikTok has come under intense scrutiny in Romania, especially after the rise of far-right independent candidate Calin Georgescu in the country’s presidential election. The video-sharing platform took action in response to reports of electoral interference, announcing on Tuesday that it had dismantled several networks attempting to manipulate the Romanian elections.
TikTok executives defended the company’s election integrity measures while addressing European Union lawmakers, highlighting their efforts to prevent the spread of misinformation and protect the platform from being used for political manipulation. However, the controversy surrounding Georgescu’s campaign has sparked a broader debate about TikTok’s role in shaping political discourse and its potential influence over voters.
The Romanian election has become a focal point of international attention due to the unexpected surge in popularity of Georgescu, a far-right outsider who was virtually unknown before his victory in the first round of voting. He won decisively, defeating the incumbent prime minister and surprising many observers. This success raised suspicions, with experts speculating that Georgescu’s TikTok presence played a significant role in boosting his profile. His TikTok account gained massive traction, with 5.8 million likes and 527,000 followers, making him a prominent figure on the platform in the lead-up to the election.
However, some critics have suggested that Georgescu’s online popularity may have been artificially inflated. There are concerns that his social media following was manipulated or orchestrated in some way, and some officials hinted that TikTok may have given him preferential treatment. This suspicion became particularly contentious given the reports of Russian interference in Romanian politics, as well as the country’s proximity to the ongoing war in Ukraine. The allegations suggest that social media platforms like TikTok could be exploited as tools for foreign influence in European elections, raising questions about how much control these platforms have over the content shared on their networks and whether they are doing enough to prevent misuse.
In response to these concerns, TikTok executives defended their actions. Brie Pegum, TikTok’s global head of product authenticity and transparency, revealed that the platform had taken down multiple networks attempting to manipulate the election. Specifically, TikTok dismantled two small groups that targeted Romanian users. One of these groups had just 1,781 followers but was supporting Georgescu, while the other backed different candidates. TikTok took action on these networks just days after the first round of voting, underscoring the platform’s commitment to addressing election interference in real-time.
TikTok’s role in the election extended beyond just removing networks. The platform applied its “global playbook” for election integrity while also taking a localized approach by employing Romanian-language content moderators and collaborating with local fact-checking groups. Caroline Greer, TikTok’s chief lobbyist in the European Union, explained that the company worked closely with various political parties and authorities, including Romania’s electoral body, to ensure compliance with local regulations. TikTok’s efforts were part of its larger strategy to adhere to the European Union’s Digital Services Act, which aims to safeguard users from illegal or harmful content online.
Despite these measures, many EU lawmakers expressed dissatisfaction with TikTok’s response to the election-related concerns. Dirk Gotink, a Dutch member of the European Parliament, voiced frustration, saying that lawmakers were losing patience with the company. He criticized TikTok for its delayed response to election-related manipulation, likening it to a firefighter arriving after a fire had already caused significant damage. Gotink and other lawmakers demanded more specific answers from TikTok, questioning whether the platform’s moderators in Romania were adequately addressing the issue during the election and accusing the company of waiting too long to take meaningful action.
A report from the Bucharest-based Expert Forum think tank highlighted just how influential TikTok had become in the Romanian election. Georgescu’s TikTok account received 92.8 million views, with an additional 52 million views recorded just days before the first-round vote. This sudden surge in engagement raised further suspicions about the authenticity of his online following. One account dedicated solely to Georgescu’s content, featuring posts of him attending church, practicing judo, running, and speaking on podcasts, amassed 1.7 million likes. This account was removed by TikTok the day after the first round of voting, as part of its broader effort to eliminate impersonation accounts.
TikTok reported that it had removed more than 150 accounts impersonating Georgescu, as well as over 650 additional accounts related to other candidates. This removal of fake accounts highlights the challenges TikTok faces in maintaining the integrity of elections, especially as its platform becomes an increasingly popular tool for political campaigns.
As the election enters its final phase, Georgescu will face Elena Lasconi, the reformist candidate from the progressive Save Romania Union party, in a presidential runoff. The outcome of the election will likely continue to be influenced by the use of social media platforms like TikTok, and the controversy surrounding the platform’s involvement in Romania underscores the growing importance of regulating digital spaces during elections. With social media platforms playing an increasingly central role in shaping political discourse, the debate over how best to address manipulation and interference will likely continue to evolve in the coming years.
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