BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — TikTok executives defended their handling of content related to Romania’s elections on Tuesday, telling European Union lawmakers they had taken down several networks attempting to interfere in the vote. The platform faced scrutiny after far-right candidate Calin Georgescu, a political outsider, emerged as the frontrunner in the race, triggering allegations of electoral misconduct and Russian influence.
TikTok’s global head of product, authenticity and transparency, Brie Pegum, told lawmakers that two small networks were disrupted on Friday, just days after the first round of voting. These networks targeted Romanian users, with one supporting Georgescu, and another backing different candidates. The network that supported Georgescu had just 1,781 followers but gained significant attention, reflecting the platform’s growing influence in the election.
Georgescu, who had previously been an unknown independent candidate, made waves after winning the first round of voting by a significant margin, surpassing the incumbent prime minister. His popularity soared, particularly on TikTok, where his account now has 5.8 million likes and 527,000 followers. Observers have questioned whether his rise was driven by artificially inflated online support, with suspicions that TikTok may have provided Georgescu with preferential treatment.
The controversy has shed light on the increasing role of TikTok in Romanian politics. As a member state of both the EU and NATO, Romania shares a lengthy border with war-torn Ukraine, making its political stability a focal point. TikTok’s involvement in the election has raised concerns about its potential influence on voters, particularly when such platforms are increasingly seen as critical tools in shaping political discourse.
In their defence, TikTok officials emphasised their adherence to a “global playbook” for managing election-related content, while also taking a locally tailored approach in Romania. Caroline Greer, TikTok’s top lobbyist in the EU, explained that the company had deployed 95 Romanian-language content moderators, collaborated with a fact-checking organisation, and engaged with Romanian political parties and various authorities, including the country’s electoral commission.
Despite these efforts, several EU lawmakers expressed dissatisfaction with the platform’s responses. Dirk Gotink, a Dutch member of the European Parliament, voiced frustration over TikTok’s perceived lack of urgency during the election period. “The feeling here is that we are losing patience… and that we need more specific answers,” Gotink stated. He further criticised TikTok’s response to the crisis, likening it to sending “firefighters” to manage a fire that had already raged for weeks.
“The feeling is simply not convincing,” Gotink added. “And it doesn’t reflect what is happening online.” His comments underscored growing concerns that TikTok had not acted swiftly enough to address potential manipulation and disinformation in the lead-up to the vote.
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A report from the Bucharest-based Expert Forum think tank revealed that Georgescu’s TikTok account amassed 92.8 million views in the final weeks before the first-round vote, a figure that surged by another 52 million views just days before polling. TikTok also removed a separate account dedicated entirely to Georgescu, which had garnered 1.7 million likes by the night of the vote. This account featured videos of Georgescu attending church, practising judo, running, and appearing on podcasts.
In a statement to The Associated Press, TikTok confirmed that the account was one of over 150 accounts impersonating Georgescu, all of which had been removed. Additionally, the platform claimed to have taken down more than 650 impersonation accounts related to other candidates.
This latest controversy highlights the growing influence of social media platforms on political campaigns, especially in countries like Romania, where TikTok has emerged as a powerful tool for political messaging. As the European Union continues to grapple with regulating online content and safeguarding elections, the scrutiny of TikTok’s role in Romania’s vote is likely to have wider implications for how platforms are held accountable for their impact on democracy across Europe.
