EU Commission Launches Formal Procedure Against TikTok
The background is allegedly a violation of the “Digital Services Act” (DSA) in connection with the presidential election in Romania, the Brussels authority announced on Tuesday.
Specifically, it is about TikTok’s obligation to systematically assess and mitigate risks related to the integrity of elections. “We must protect our democracies from every kind of foreign interference” said EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. “Whenever we suspect such interference, especially in elections, we must act quickly and decisively.”
After “serious indications” that foreign actors used TikTok to interfere in the Romanian presidential election, a thorough investigation is now being conducted to determine whether the company has violated the DSA by not combating such risks, von der Leyen said. “It should be clear that in the EU, all online platforms, including TikTok, must be held accountable.