Success against election manipulation by Tiktok: EU Commission launches investigation into Romanian election
Dear friends,
This is a bombshell. I am still speaking in the plenary session of the European Parliament about the role of platforms such as TikTok and X in the manipulation of elections and democracy (my speech can be read below), when the EU Commission announces the opening of a formal investigation into TikTok.
What is special about this is that it is the first time that the Commission is officially investigating whether social media algorithms pose a threat to democracy and influence elections.
It may sound technical, but it is really important: Article 34 requires large platforms to carry out a risk assessment to determine whether their services have ‘any actual or foreseeable negative effects on civic discourse and electoral processes, and public security’. These assessment are normally done once a year – but in the case of Romania, the Commission is now taking a closer look.
When we negotiated the DSA in the last legislature, I fought like a lioness with many allies for this article and got it in against great resistance from lobbyists and the like.
But since then, the test for threats to democracy has not yet been officially applied, even though, as in the European elections, the reports of electoral interference were very specific. In the presidential election in Romania, the violations are so obvious that the Commission must act now – as I called for in a written question not even two weeks ago (see my email on the subject).
It is now up to the EU Commission to take a close look at TikTok.
If the EU Commission comes to the conclusion that TikTok has violated its due diligence obligations under Article 34, severe consequences could follow. And perhaps most importantly, a precedent will be set for investigating other platforms and other elections. This is of the utmost importance, especially in view of the upcoming elections in European countries such as Germany.
Today: The European Parliament discusses election interference – thanks to the EPP and the right without Musk’s X
When it comes to influencing elections, Elon Musk’s ‘X’, formerly Twitter, should not be missing. Everyone who is still there knows that since Musk took over, the platform has completely drifted away. And Elon Musk, a de facto member of the future Trump administration, changed the algorithm so that his own tweets and pro-Trump content are given preferential treatment. So much for freedom of expression!
That is why it would have been important to talk about X today as well. But at the last moment, according to press reports, Meloni’s right-wing ECR faction proposed taking X off the agenda and only talking about TikTok. There was a majority in favour of this in the responsible body, which was only possible with the EPP of Manfred Weber and Ursula von der Leyen. Once again, the EPP is breaking the firewall. No wonder the ECR and EPP didn’t want to talk about X, since they themselves use the platform for hate, agitation and disinformation. Musk regularly visits Meloni in Rome.
This shows that the New Right is working together globally, and Manfred Weber and the EPP are their enablers.
One thing is clear: if algorithms continue to spread disinformation many times faster than facts, democracy cannot survive.
I will explain this in more detail in my speech today. And working for a fair and democratic digital space will continue to shape my work in 2025. Thank you to all of you who support me in this and do your part.
Thank you for your support, a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year,
Alexandra Geese
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My speech in the European Parliament on 17 December 2024 on the agenda item ‘Misinformation and disinformation on social media platforms such as TikTok and the associated risks for the integrity of elections in Europe’
(translation from German original)
Commissioner, Madam Vice-President, dear colleagues!
Democracy is in danger when algorithms spread disinformation six, ten or even a hundred times faster than facts. When every lie is rewarded with attention, but the facts are completely lost in the jungle of these lies, then our citizens no longer have a chance of good politics either.
Because that needs facts, that needs truth.
And through this mechanism, social media is now on the side of extremists. And of course this is readily exploited by Putin’s henchmen, who, as in Romania, spread lies with thousands of bot accounts to help their candidate win.
In Europe, we must and can get at the root of the evil.
In Romania, an election had to be repeated due to TikTok’s misconduct, with great danger to security and to the consensus and cohesion in the country. And this proves that non-transparent, one-sided algorithms pose a danger to public discourse and elections, as defined in European law in the Digital Services Act. And on the basis of this Digital Services Act, the EU Commission must now take action.
It must take tough action to protect elections so that all political opinions can once again get a chance at visibility on social media, and not just those who spread hate and lies.
Thank you.