TikTok in hot water: EU demands answers over election threat
The European Commission, concerned about the impact on the elections in Romania, has appealed to TikTok's management and demanded immediate explanations. The platform has 24 hours to present its position regarding the information circulating on it that affects the elections in that country.
The European Commission has demanded immediate explanations from TikTok following information revealed by Romania about external interference in their electoral process. The platform was given 24 hours to respond. According to the Polish Press Agency, there has been increased pressure on the app just before the second round of the presidential elections in Romania, taking place this Sunday.
We have a tool at our disposal where we make sure that the very large online platforms have their role to play and make sure that their services are not misused to influence voters and to influence people, stated European Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier.
When asked whether the time remaining before the elections is too short for effective action, Regnier explained that the Commission's request relates to information disclosed by Romanian authorities on Wednesday. "I can confirm that we have received and we are currently working on these documents now," he added.
The European Commission concerned about TikTok's influence
The European Commission's Vice President for Digital Affairs, Henna Virkkunen, expressed her concerns on social media: "We are concerned about mounting indications of coordinated foreign online influence operation targeting ongoing Romanian elections, especially on TikTok."
On the same day, the European Commission ordered TikTok to freeze and preserve data related to the presidential elections in Romania and other votes to be held in the European Union until the end of March 2025.
