EU Orders TikTok to Freeze Data Linked to Controversial Romanian Election

State Department voices concerns about possible foreign interference in Romania’s elections, after a pro-Russia candidate, Calin Georgescu, reached the run-off.

Calin Georgescu, running as an independent candidate for president, speaks to media after registering his bid in the country's presidential elections, in Bucharest, Romania, on Oct. 1, 2024. Alexandru Dobre/AP Photo

The European Union has ordered TikTok to freeze all data linked to the Romanian presidential elections, after an independent populist candidate, Calin Georgescu, whose campaign was based on the social media platform, made it into the run-off on Dec. 8.

EU officials issued a “retention order” under the Digital Services Act after documents declassified by Romania’s top security council on Dec. 4 suggested that Georgescu had been promoted on TikTok through a series of coordinated accounts, recommendation algorithms, and paid promotion.