EU Orders TikTok to Preserve Election Data

The European Commission has ordered TikTok to freeze and preserve data related to Romania's presidential election amid allegations of Russian interference. Intelligence released by Bucharest claims that Moscow orchestrated a campaign supporting far-right candidate Calin Georgescu, who unexpectedly emerged as a front-runner. TikTok has denied any wrongdoing and maintains it is cooperating with the Commission's investigation, which falls under the Digital Services Act designed to regulate tech platforms in the EU. The EU's retention order requires TikTok to retain internal documents and information about its recommendation systems to address potential risks to electoral integrity. As Romanians prepare for a runoff election, concerns about foreign meddling and the influence of social media remain at the forefront of the electoral discourse. The situation highlights ongoing tensions around election integrity in the EU and the role of digital platforms.