Disinformation Campaign on TikTok Targets EU Commission Chief Following Romanian Election Cancellation
A wave of disinformation targeting European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has flooded TikTok following the unprecedented cancellation of the second round of Romania’s presidential elections. Falsely attributing the decision to von der Leyen, these videos depict her as interfering in Romanian domestic affairs and attempting to suppress the unexpected first-round victory of ultra-nationalist candidate Călin Georgescu. This narrative, amplified by pro-Georgescu accounts, aims to undermine trust in the EU and paint Georgescu as a victim of external forces.
The decision to annul the first round and cancel the subsequent run-off was made by Romania’s Constitutional Court, citing classified intelligence suggesting the integrity of the first round had been compromised by a "state actor." The details of this intelligence remain undisclosed. However, the Court’s dramatic move sparked controversy and provided fertile ground for the spread of disinformation. Von der Leyen had no involvement in the Court’s decision, a purely domestic matter. Yet, the false narrative portraying her as orchestrating the cancellation quickly gained traction on TikTok.
The disinformation campaign employs various tactics, including misrepresenting comments from a conservative French political commentator and outright fabrications about von der Leyen contacting Romanian officials. These claims, amplified by numerous pro-Georgescu TikTok accounts, often intertwine with anti-EU and anti-Western sentiments, further bolstering the narrative of external interference in Romanian affairs. These accounts frequently portray Georgescu as a national hero unjustly targeted by globalist forces.
This disinformation campaign extends beyond TikTok, appearing on platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook. Some websites masquerading as news outlets have echoed the false accusations against von der Leyen, often citing a known disinformation portal disguised as a legitimate French media outlet. This cross-platform dissemination demonstrates the coordinated nature of the campaign and its intent to reach a wider audience. The lack of transparency regarding the intelligence underlying the Court’s decision has unfortunately fueled speculation and created an environment ripe for manipulation.
The European Commission, while refraining from commenting directly on the Romanian Court’s decision, has taken decisive action against TikTok for potential violations of the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA). The Commission launched formal proceedings against TikTok following concerns about the platform’s role in disseminating election-related disinformation. The investigation focuses on TikTok’s alleged failure to adequately address systemic risks related to content moderation, algorithms, data practices, and advertising policies, especially concerning the potential amplification of pro-Georgescu content and the possible influence of a state actor.
This investigation highlights the growing concern surrounding the role of social media platforms in manipulating public discourse and potentially influencing electoral outcomes. The Commission’s urgent request for information from TikTok regarding its content moderation practices and data related to the Romanian elections emphasizes the seriousness of the situation. The Commission’s actions underscore the need for greater platform accountability in safeguarding democratic processes against disinformation campaigns and foreign interference. While TikTok maintains that it has robust systems in place to protect elections and has removed accounts linked to covert influence networks, questions remain regarding the platform’s algorithm and the potential for manipulation. An independent investigation by Global Witness found that Georgescu’s content was promoted at a significantly higher rate than his opponent, raising questions about potential artificial inflation of engagement. The Commission’s investigation will delve into these issues and seek to determine the extent of TikTok’s role in the spread of disinformation surrounding the Romanian elections. Furthermore, allegations of illicit campaign financing involving payments to TikTok users for promoting Georgescu, while denied, add another layer of complexity to the situation. These allegations, currently under investigation by Romanian authorities, underscore the potential misuse of social media platforms for circumventing campaign finance regulations and manipulating online discourse.