EU Probes TikTok Over Election Integrity Breach

The European Commission has launched formal investigations into TikTok for potential election interference during Romania's recent presidential elections, amid allegations of foreign manipulation and violations of the Digital Services Act (DSA). Coimisiún na Meán, Ireland’s media regulator, will assist in the inquiry, focusing on TikTok's political advertising policies and recommender systems. The investigations follow a Romanian court's annulment of election results due to claims of Russian influence via social media, specifically highlighting TikTok's role in promoting candidate Calin Georgescu. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stressed the importance of holding online platforms accountable for their impact on democratic processes. TikTok maintains it has safeguarded election integrity globally and is cooperating with the Commission's requests. This marks the third DSA investigation concerning TikTok, reflecting increasing scrutiny of the platform's practices.