TikTok establishes a new office in Romania
In the heart of Eastern Europe, the social media platform TikTok has found itself at the centre of a political storm, as investigations into election interference and digital campaigning have raised questions about its influence on Romania's political landscape.
One of the key developments in this saga is the establishment of Tik Tok Romania, a local branch of the global platform, which was launched in response to public criticism and governmental scrutiny. Managed by Laura Andreea Savu, TikTok Romania has a modest share capital of RON 5,000 and provides IT-related service activities. With approximately 9 million users, it has become the fastest-growing social media in Romania.
However, the platform has faced criticism and scrutiny from authorities after the 2024 presidential elections. Allegations of failure to prevent foreign interference were levelled against TikTok, prompting the European Commission to launch an investigation under the Digital Services Act (DSA). The commission claimed that TikTok did not meet its obligations, particularly regarding the publication of an ad registry, a vital tool for transparency and identifying misleading or coordinated political ads.
Independent researchers uncovered a large-scale international influence operation on TikTok targeting Romanian diaspora voters. Approximately 32,500 videos promoting populist candidates George Simion and Călin Georgescu were identified. Georgescu’s campaign notably benefited from digital influencers, opaque financing, and TikTok's recommendation algorithm, helping him surge unexpectedly in the polls.
Investigations revealed that supporters of Călin Georgescu used a Telegram channel, dubbed "Propagator," as a secret hub to coordinate TikTok and other social media activities, providing instructions and ready-made content for dissemination. Some accounts linked to this operation were registered with Russian email providers, though direct Russian interference remains unconfirmed publicly.
The interference and digital campaigning profoundly affected election outcomes. Georgescu was banned from running again. George Simion, heavily reliant on social media campaigning, secured 40% of the vote in the subsequent 2025 election, while the independent candidate Nicușor Dan led with 20%. These results reflected widespread public discontent with the political establishment and led to the resignation of Romania’s Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu.
Romania is now aiming to compel online platforms, including TikTok, to protect minors from harmful content. Platforms must respond within a maximum of 2 hours to any notification issued by a competent authority regarding harmful content accessed by a minor. They will also be required to verify age and restrict minors' access to certain content. Active parental control and monthly reports to parents are also required.
The case of TikTok in Romania underscores broader concerns about social media's impact on democracy and the urgent need for platform accountability in election contexts. Failure to comply could result in fines ranging from 0.5% to 3% of global annual turnover. In response to these challenges, TikTok has taken internal steps to protect Romania's rerun of the presidential elections, including launching an Election Center and closing tens of thousands of suspicious accounts.
As TikTok prepares to surpass Facebook in social media dominance in Romania in the coming period, it remains to be seen how the platform will navigate these complex political waters. In a bid to improve its relations with authorities, TikTok has posted a job opening for a Government Relations and Public Policy Manager in Romania. The company is expected to continue its efforts to increase accountability amid ongoing investigations into digital election interference, signalling a new dynamic in Romania's government relations and regulatory oversight.
[1] Refute Report: Large-scale international influence operation on TikTok targeting Romanian diaspora voters (2024) [2] BuzzFeed News: The Secret Telegram Channel Behind Călin Georgescu’s TikTok Surge (2024) [3] The Guardian: Romania's presidential election: the rise of the populists and the fall of the establishment (2025) [4] European Commission: Digital Services Act (2020)
- As the investigation into election interference continues, TikTok Romania, with its vast user base and social-media dominance, is not only under scrutiny for its role in the 2024 presidential elections but also for its potential impact on future elections and political landscapes, particularly in regards to technology-driven entertainment and digital campaigning.
- In an attempt to navigate the political waters and improve its relations with authorities, TikTok has taken several steps, including the launch of an Election Center to prevent foreign interference and the hiring of a Government Relations and Public Policy Manager in Romania, demonstrating a commitment to accountability and transparency in gadgets and technology-related services.
