Brussels, (EFE).- European Union officials on Monday welcomed recent changes made by TikTok to improve content moderation ahead of Romania’s presidential elections, scheduled for May.
According to European Commissioner for Technological Sovereignty Henna Virkkunen, the platform, which had previously faced criticism for failing to curb foreign interference, has since ramped up efforts to prevent disinformation.
Speaking before the European Parliament, Virkkunen said TikTok has hired more Romanian-speaking content moderators and assigned 120 additional staff to a dedicated election task force.
The platform has also enhanced its capacity to identify politically affiliated accounts. “I welcome this shift,” Virkkunen told lawmakers.
The European Commission launched a formal investigation into Tiktok in December, citing concerns over its role in the Nov. 2023 Romanian elections.
That vote was later annulled due to widespread irregularities, including allegations of Russian-linked propaganda, much of which reportedly spread through TikTok.
Controversy over annulled vote and banned candidate
Romania’s presidential race was restarted after the country’s Constitutional Court invalidated the initial November results, citing election fraud and illegal campaign financing.
Authorities accused foreign actors, particularly Russian-backed sources, of influencing voters via social media.
The new election cycle began on Friday under heightened scrutiny.
However, Calin Georgescu, the far-right nationalist who won the first round in November, is now barred from running due to campaign irregularities.
His disqualification is seen as a key test of Romania’s judicial independence and the EU’s efforts to combat democratic backsliding among member states.
While the upcoming election is now proceeding with tighter controls, the EU investigation into Tiktok remains active.
Commissioner Vrikkunen emphasized the need to finalize not only the TikTok probe but also other pending cases involving major tech companies.
Broader EU crackdown on Big Tech platforms
TikTok is not the only platform facing regulatory pressure from Brussels.
The European Commission is also pursuing investigations into Apple, Meta (parent company of Facebook and Instagram), and X (formerly Twitter), under the Digital Markets Act (DMA) and Digital Services Act (DSA), sweeping legislative frameworks aimed at curbing monopolistic behavior and protecting digital rights.
Apple has been accused of abusing its dominance over the App Store by limiting communication between developers and users and by hindering access to third-party app marketplaces.
Meta is under scrutiny for its data privacy policy, particularly the controversial model requiring users to pay to avoid personalized advertising on Instagram.
The Commission is considering fines for both companies but has delayed final decisions as Brussels and Washington attempt to avoid escalating transatlantic trade tensions.
X, owned by Elon Musk, is also being investigated for its content moderation practices.
EU legal teams are currently reviewing documents submitted by the company’s lawyers in response to the inquiry.
Commissioner Virkkunen stressed that while TikTok’s recent improvements are welcome, regulatory oversight must continue to ensure digital platforms comply with EU election security standards.
“We must act decisively to protect our democracies,” she said. EFE
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