Romania Urges EU to Probe TikTok’s Role in Elections Following Ultranationalist’s Surprising Victory

Researchers are delving into the strategies behind Calin Georgescu’s remarkable rise in the polls, examining the activity surrounding his TikTok presence, where he amassed over 370,000 followers.

“We believe TikTok was exploited and manipulated by him, supported by an army of fake accounts created to boost his profile,” said Bogdan Manolea, executive director of the Romanian advocacy group Association for Technology and Internet.

Some observers have also highlighted the involvement of influencers who allegedly failed to disclose their content as paid advertising—a practice prohibited by TikTok’s platform rules. Experts have suggested that this may have played a role in amplifying Georgescu’s visibility and influence online.

Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu added his voice to the debate on Tuesday, calling for closer scrutiny of the financial operations behind Georgescu’s TikTok campaign. “It’s a system—I don’t know how legal it is,” Ciolacu said. “I understood how the system was used. The source of financing, in my opinion, must be investigated. Follow the money.”

Responding to the controversy, Paolo Ganino, TikTok’s spokesperson in Brussels, dismissed the claims as “inaccurate and misleading.” Ganino explained, “Most candidates established a presence on TikTok, and the winners also campaigned across other digital platforms beyond our own.”

Ganino further emphasized TikTok’s proactive measures during the Romanian election, stating, “We collaborated with the Electoral Commission to create an in-app Election Center to promote reliable election information for our Romanian community. We do not accept paid political ads and require everyone on our platform to comply with our Community Guidelines, which we enforce regularly.”

Nicholas Vinocur contributed to this report.


Comments

5 responses to “Romania Urges EU to Probe TikTok’s Role in Elections Following Ultranationalist’s Surprising Victory”

  1. Screwtape Avatar

    Oh, fantastic! Nothing like a good ol’ TikTok scandal to spice up Romanian politics—who needs votes when you have filters and fake followers, right? 😏 Maybe next election, I’ll just post a cat video and call it a campaign!

  2. Digital Moonshine Avatar
    Digital Moonshine

    Oh, brilliant! Who knew TikTok could double as a political strategist? Next, we’ll be asking our grandmothers to launch viral dance trends to win elections! 🎉🕺 #ProgressivismAtItsBest

  3. Mr. Gadget Avatar

    Oh, look at that, TikTok is suddenly the villain in the Romanian election saga—who knew a bit of dancing could swing votes? 🤔 Maybe next time we should campaign with interpretative dance, eh? 🕺💃

  4. tabasco dracula Avatar
    tabasco dracula

    Ah, the wonders of social media politics! Who knew TikTok was the secret weapon for winning elections? Next thing you know, we’ll be electing mayors through dance-offs—just hope the influencers declare their sponsorships before the cha-cha! 💃📈

  5. midnight bat Avatar
    midnight bat

    Ah, the beauty of modern campaigning! Nothing says “I’m a serious politician” quite like a TikTok dance and a sprinkle of fake followers—just what Romania needed, a masterclass in digital sleaze! 🤷‍♂️💃

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Last News

King Charles ‘unwise’ to raise borders at Macron state banquet, says Reform deputy leader

King Charles ‘unwise’ to raise borders at Macron state banquet, says Reform deputy leader

During his speech at the state banquet at Windsor Castle, King Charles highlighted the many complex threats facing both countries, which come from various directions. He emphasized the importance of addressing these challenges together as allies and friends, noting that these issues transcend borders and cannot be avoided by isolation. He also addressed the issue of “irregular migration acro

Read More

Fico: I Seek Early Agreement with the European Commission on Halting Russian Gas Supply

Fico: I Seek Early Agreement with the European Commission on Halting Russian Gas Supply

Bratislava – Slovakia is continuing to withhold its support for the 18th package of anti-Russian sanctions, tying its vote to the resolution of concerns over gas prices, availability, and compensation for potential damages resulting from the halt of Russian gas supplies effective January 1, 2028. Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) expressed this stance on social media on Thursday, while also ind

Read More

EU Announces €2.3 Billion Aid for Ukraine’s Reconstruction

EU Announces €2.3 Billion Aid for Ukraine’s Reconstruction

Brussels (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – On Thursday, the European Commission revealed a 2.3 billion euro aid package for Ukraine to assist in its reconstruction following the extensive destruction caused by Russia’s full-scale invasion.

What is included in the €2.3 billion package?How much destruction has Russia caused in Ukraine?

Russia’s air strikes have seriously impacted the infrastructure

Read More

EU Illegal Crossings Decrease by 20% in First Half of 2025, Reports Frontex

EU Illegal Crossings Decrease by 20% in First Half of 2025, Reports Frontex

The Central Mediterranean route is the EU’s most active migratory path, accounting for 39 percent of all irregular arrivals, according to a press release.
This route is also perilous. The International Organization for Migration estimates about 760 people died in the Mediterranean in the first half of this year. In 2024, 2,300 lives were lost in the same area.
Frontex has around 3,000 agents, plan

Read More

Environment Ministers Tested for “Forever Chemicals”

Environment Ministers Tested for “Forever Chemicals”

In Copenhagen, EU Environment and Climate ministers, along with Environment Commissioner Jessika Roswall, participated in a blood test on Thursday to check for “forever chemicals” (PFAS), according to Danish and European officials.
PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a group of synthetic chemicals that do not break down easily in the environment.
Research indicates that some PFAS ca

Read More

Diepenbeek: 21 Flats by Dethier to Replace Old Post Office

Diepenbeek: 21 Flats by Dethier to Replace Old Post Office

Diepenbeek (Eurotoday) – The old post office on Kerkstraat in Diepenbeek will be replaced by a green housing project with 21 apartments. Dethier plans 2 L-shaped buildings and a private garden.
As VRT News reported, the old post office on Kerkstraat in Diepenbeek, a municipality in the province of Limburg, Belgium, is being demolished. A new housing project will be built there. Officials mention

Read More

EU Considers Halting Israel Relations Amid Gaza Crisis

EU Considers Halting Israel Relations Amid Gaza Crisis

The review indicates that suspending the trade chapter of the agreement would remove trade preferences for Israeli products entering the EU, potentially passing with a qualified majority vote in the Council. A complete ban on imports from illegal West Bank settlements demands unanimity from member states, but individual nations can adopt this policy on their own.
Alternative options include exclud

Read More

EP adopted resolution on China’s raw material export restrictions at Lexmann’s request

EP adopted resolution on China’s raw material export restrictions at Lexmann’s request

Brussels/Strasbourg – The European Parliament (EP) approved a resolution on Thursday to address the EU’s economic, security, and strategic interests in the supply of critical raw materials, initiated by Slovak MEP Miriam Lexmann (EPP/KDH). She emphasized the significance of this issue for European security, as reported by TASR.
As a member of the EP Committee on International Trade (INTA),

Read More

Vought SB2U Vindicator: A Naval Aviation Legacy

Vought SB2U Vindicator: A Naval Aviation Legacy

Introduction 
If you have an interest in aviation or you enjoy studying old planes, chances are the Vought SB2U Vindicator will catch your fancy. One might wonder why we concentrate on this plane and not on more famous types of WWII aircraft, such as the 4U Corsair. That is why the Vindicator preceded the Corsair and was used in World War II, but is not very popular. It acted as a basis for subs

Read More

Expert Warns: Trump Trade Dispute Poses Risk to EU’s Future

Expert Warns: Trump Trade Dispute Poses Risk to EU’s Future

Berlin (dpa) – A trade expert warns that the ongoing trade conflict between the USA and the EU may escalate into a significant confrontation with dire implications for Europe. In a scenario paper acquired by the German Press Agency, Laura von Daniels from the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP) asserts, “For the first time since World War II, Americans and Europeans may

Read More