TikTok Denies Allegations of Bias in Romania’s Presidential Election

Amid rising tensions surrounding Romania’s presidential elections, TikTok has firmly rejected allegations that it provided “preferential treatment” to far-right candidate Călin Georgescu.

‘The social media platform’s director of government relations for Central and Eastern Europe, Jakub Olek, asserted that investigations conducted by TikTok found no evidence of a “covert influence operation” or foreign interference related to the electoral process.

The controversy gained momentum after Romania’s Supreme Country Defense Council (CSAT) claimed that Georgescu had received significant exposure on TikTok without being correctly labelled as a political candidate. Not only that, but another Romanian official, the Vice-President of ANCOM, the Romanian watchdog for communications, asked for TikTok to be entirely banned in the country.

This alleged favouritism raised concerns about the platform’s impact on public perception and voter behaviour, mainly as Georgescu unexpectedly garnered 23% of the vote in the first round of elections, prompting a court-ordered recount.

In response to the accusations, TikTok emphasized its commitment to maintaining platform integrity. Olek highlighted that the company had removed over 66,000 fake accounts and blocked millions of fraudulent likes during the election to ensure a fair environment for all candidates. He reiterated that all candidates were subject to the same rules and restrictions on the platform.

The allegations come at a critical time as Romania prepares for a runoff election scheduled for December 8. The situation underscores ongoing concerns about the role of social media in shaping political narratives and influencing electoral outcomes.

As authorities continue investigating these severe claims, the implications for TikTok and the broader electoral landscape remain significant. As voters approach the polls, the intersection of digital platforms and political campaigns raises vital questions about transparency and fairness in modern democracy.