EU acts against TikTok for failure on Romania election interference
EU takes Aim at TikTok and Meta Over Election Interference and Data Breaches
Brussels, Belgium – The European Commission has launched a formal investigation into TikTok, alleging the social media giant failed to adequately address election interference during Romania’s recent presidential election. Separately, the Commission has fined Meta, Facebook’s parent company, for a 2018 security breach.
The action against TikTok stems from concerns over alleged Russian interference in the Romanian election, which took place in November. Romanian authorities accused TikTok of allowing the spread of misinformation and anti-European and anti-NATO propaganda on its platform. The irregularities were so severe that the results of the first round of voting were annulled before the second round could proceed.
On December 5th, the EU ordered TikTok to freeze data related to the Romanian elections under the terms of the Digital Services Act (DSA), a landmark law aimed at curbing harmful content online.
“Following serious indications that foreign actors interfered in the Romanian presidential elections by using TikTok, we are now thoroughly investigating whether TikTok has violated the Digital Services Act by failing to tackle such risks,” said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
The Commission’s investigation will focus on TikTok’s policies regarding political advertisements, paid-for political content, and the potential for algorithmic manipulation.
TikTok’s parent company,Bytedance,maintains that it has protected the integrity of its platform during over 150 elections this year. They claim to have provided the European Commission with extensive information about their efforts to combat misinformation and hate speech.
“We do not accept paid political advertisements and proactively remove content violating our policies on misinformation and hate speech,” a Bytedance spokesperson stated.
In a separate case, the Commission fined Meta €1.2 billion for violating the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in connection with a 2018 security breach that exposed the personal data of millions of Facebook users.
These actions demonstrate the EU’s commitment to holding tech giants accountable for protecting user data and preventing the spread of harmful content online. The outcome of the TikTok investigation could have significant implications for the platform’s operations in Europe and set a precedent for future regulation of social media companies.
TikTok and Election Interference: A Growing Concern for U.S. Allies
As the world watches upcoming elections in Croatia and germany, concerns are mounting about the potential for foreign interference, especially through social media platforms like TikTok.
The specter of election meddling looms large following the collapse of Germany’s government coalition, setting the stage for a parliamentary election in February 2025. Croatia,too,faces a crucial presidential election on december 29th.
The role of social media in spreading political misinformation has become a pressing issue globally. Platforms like TikTok and X (formerly Twitter) have come under scrutiny for their potential to be weaponized to influence voters.
While the U.S. has grappled with its own challenges regarding social media and election integrity, the concerns extend far beyond American borders.
“The vulnerability of democratic processes to online manipulation is a global challenge,” said a senior U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity.”We are working closely with our allies to address these threats and ensure the integrity of their elections.”
the official declined to comment on specific intelligence regarding potential interference in the Croatian or German elections.
This heightened awareness comes on the heels of significant fines levied against Meta, the parent company of Facebook, by the European Union.
In a landmark decision, Ireland’s data protection Commission fined Meta €251 million for a 2017 Facebook security breach that exposed the personal data of millions of users.The breach, which allowed unauthorized access to sensitive information like religious and political beliefs, highlighted the potential for misuse of personal data on social media platforms.
“This enforcement action underscores the critical importance of data protection by design,” said Graham Doyle, deputy commissioner of the Irish Data Protection Commission. “failure to prioritize data security can have devastating consequences for individuals and democratic processes.”
As the world watches Croatia and Germany prepare for their elections, the issue of social media interference remains a pressing concern. The U.S., along with its allies, is working to mitigate these threats and safeguard the integrity of democratic institutions.
TikTok and Meta Under EU Scrutiny: A Conversation with a Digital Rights Expert
Brussels, Belgium – The latest move by the European Commission against TikTok and meta highlights the growing battleground between online platforms and regulators over election integrity, data privacy, and content moderation. To unpack these complex issues, we spoke with Dr. Emilia Petrova, a leading expert in digital rights and internet law at the European Center for Digital Policy.
NewsDirectory3: Dr. Petrova,the EU is facing a dramatic situation with alleged Russian interference in the Romanian elections via TikTok. What are your initial readings of this case?
Dr. Petrova: This case raises critically important concerns about the vulnerability of democratic processes to foreign interference on social media. The Romanian elections demonstrate how easily misinformation and propaganda can spread online, possibly undermining public trust and electoral outcomes.TikTokS apparent failure to effectively prevent the spread of such content is deeply worrying.
NewsDirectory3: What legal tools does the EU have at it’s disposal to hold platforms like TikTok accountable?
Dr. Petrova: The Digital services Act (DSA) is a powerful tool. By ordering TikTok to freeze data related to the romanian elections, the EU is sending a clear message that it will not tolerate inaction from platforms when it comes to election interference. The DSA allows for significant fines and even bans for platforms that violate its provisions.
NewsDirectory3: Separately,Meta has been fined for a 2018 data breach. How do these two issues connect?
Dr. Petrova: both cases underscore the EU’s commitment to strengthening online safety and protecting user data. Data breaches, like the one involving Meta, highlight the vulnerability of personal data and the need for robust data protection measures. While seemingly separate, these issues are interconnected as platforms struggle to balance content moderation, user privacy, and transparency.
NewsDirectory3: What are the implications of these investigations for social media platforms and users?
Dr. Petrova: These actions signal a paradigm shift in how platforms are held accountable for the content they host. Platforms can no longer operate with impunity. Users should expect greater transparency, stronger content moderation measures, and increased protection of their data.
NewsDirectory3: Dr. Petrova, thank you for shedding light on these crucial issues.