TikTok: how the application is accused of manipulation in the election in Romania

Following the first round of the presidential elections in Romania, the TikTok application is suspected of having greatly influenced the results around the far-right candidate and favorite for the second round.

Updated December 6 at 4:00 p.m.: In an official press release and in the face of suspicions of manipulation of the vote, the Supreme Court announces the cancellation of the first round of the presidential election in Romania as well as the qualification of the far-right candidate Calin Georgescu.

Could the TikTok application be at the heart of a gigantic manipulation of votes in Romania? At a time when presidential elections are being held in the country, the European Union has just declared the freezing and collection of multiple data from TikTok in order to detect possible pro-Russian manipulation in the presidential election.

The surprise was total and shocking for many Romanian voters: following the first round of the presidential elections, the far-right candidate, Calin Georgescu, was given the big favorite for the rest of the ballots. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Romania was then responsible for investigating the candidate’s exposure on social networks, and in particular on TikTok. Calin Georgescu would have benefited from very wide media exposure without being labeled as a political candidate.

Following these accusations, TikTok did not fail to react by denying possible manipulations as well as ensuring full cooperation with the Romanian authorities and the European Commission.

Initially, the Commission proceeded to freeze and collect multiple data concerning the far-right candidate on the application. The secret services would then have found nearly 25,000 accounts having promoted the candidate Calin Georgescu, with a peak of activity two weeks before the first round of the election.

Russia’s shadow hangs over the election

The secret services investigated and gathered multiple pieces of information on these accounts dedicated to the promotion of Calin Georgescu. Operating mainly on the Telegram application to coordinate, these accounts have possible links with Russia with numerous anti-Ukraine messages relayed on the messaging application and TikTok. Accusations obviously denied by the Kremlin, which denies any interference with the presidential election in Romania.

However, Calin Georgescu’s coming to power would be very profitable for Russia. Romania shares a border with Romania and is a key point in NATO strategy. Candidate Calin Georgescu has already expressed his admiration for Vladimir Putin and his regime several times. His coming to power in Romania should therefore worry some voters about possible Russian interference in the election.