The EU is investigating TikTok over claims of Russian interference in a recent Romanian vote.

The European Union has launched an official investigation into TikTok over allegations of foreign interference in Romania’s recent presidential election. Concerns arose after intelligence reports revealed that 25,000 TikTok accounts were activated shortly before the first round of voting. These accounts supported far-right candidate Calin Georgescu, who is known for controversial views, including praise for Vladimir Putin. Georgescu denied involvement in the alleged campaign, which was reportedly illegal under Romanian law as it lacked proper election content markers.

EU regulators will examine TikTok’s advertising and content recommendation systems under the Digital Services Act (DSA), aimed at combating disinformation. The platform denies any preferential treatment of Georgescu’s account and claims flagged content was addressed within 24 hours.

The investigation will also assess the risks of algorithm manipulation and TikTok’s approach to political ads. Additionally, the EU has requested that TikTok preserve records related to election content management through early 2025, covering multiple EU nations, including Romania.

This inquiry is a priority alongside another probe into TikTok’s compliance with the DSA regarding harmful content and child safety.