The popular social media platform TikTok is often criticized, but this time it is in the news for a different reason. An investigation has been launched against TikTok for its alleged interference in campaigns.
Why this allegation?
The popular social media platform TikTok has been investigated for election interference. European Union (EU) lawmakers have ordered TikTok authorities to preserve data from the Romanian presidential election. Bucharest has claimed that it has found evidence of Moscow’s involvement in the unusual victory of pro-Russian Calin Georgescu in the Romanian presidential election.
However, Russia has denied the allegations. In a statement, the EU has ordered TikTok to preserve all data related to the Romanian election until further notice. The order is said to be in the interest of investigating the allegations due to possible interference.
TikTok authorities deny allegations.
TikTok has denied allegations of interference in the election after the EU’s order. TikTok was helping Brussels by following EU law, a spokesperson for the popular social media platform TikTok claimed.
In a statement, TikTok authorities said, “We are waiting to know the truth about some of the false reports and allegations made against us.” TikTok is a video-based social media platform owned by the Chinese private company ByteDance. They have denied allegations that they interfered in the Romanian elections.
What is the context?
A large part of the election campaign of pro-Russian candidate Calin Georgescu was on social media in his victory in the election. He chose social media for his campaign, avoiding posters and television debates. Videos that went viral on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, and X, as well as TikTok, have helped increase his support.
Meanwhile, TikTok’s legal battle against the ban or obligation to sell TikTok in the United States has failed. According to the court ruling, TikTok may be banned in the United States from January 19, 2025. However, TikTok and ByteDance have not yet commented on the ruling. Countries in Europe may follow the same path.
The company argued that the US law was unconstitutional. However, a federal appeals court rejected their appeal. TikTok’s lawyers told the court in September that the ban would severely affect the freedom of expression of 170 million US users. But the court ruled that the law was the result of extensive and bipartisan action by Congress and successive presidents.
Social media was a large part of pro-Russian Calin Georgescu’s election campaign in the election. He chose social media for his campaign, avoiding posters and television debates.
Videos that went viral on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, and X, as well as TikTok, helped increase his support.
Earlier, it was seen that in 2023, the EU enacted legislation to prevent data protection and illegal interference in elections. Where it was seen that a policy called ‘threat to public safety and the electoral system’ was formulated. Various circles started conspiring at different times around the election.
