Romanian TikTok influencers flee the country as authorities uncover a Russian-backed plot to manipulate presidential elections through social media.
At a Glance
- Romania’s Constitutional Court annulled election results due to suspected Russian interference via TikTok
- Pro-Russian candidate Călin Georgescu surged from 5% to winning the first round through viral TikTok videos
- TikTok influencers allegedly received significant payments to promote Georgescu’s nationalist messages
- Romanian authorities have launched criminal and financial investigations into the election interference
- The European Commission ordered TikTok to preserve data related to the Romanian elections
TikTok Under Fire: Romania’s Election Scandal Unfolds
Romania’s recent presidential election has been thrown into chaos as evidence of Russian interference through TikTok comes to light.
Is Russia seriously using TikTok to interfere with foreign elections, now?
The country’s Constitutional Court took the unprecedented step of annulling the election results after uncovering a sophisticated disinformation campaign allegedly orchestrated from Moscow. At the center of this controversy is Călin Georgescu, an ultranationalist and EU-skeptic candidate who unexpectedly surged from a mere 5% in polls to win the first round of voting.
The dramatic rise of Georgescu is attributed to a flood of viral TikTok videos that rebranded him as a pro-Western candidate, despite his known anti-NATO and pro-Russia stance. This digital onslaught has raised serious concerns about the integrity of Romania’s democratic process and the vulnerability of social media platforms to foreign manipulation.
The TikTok Propaganda Machine
The scale of the TikTok campaign supporting Georgescu is staggering. His account gained nearly six million likes and over 500,000 followers in a matter of weeks. Even more alarming, a single TikTok user reportedly spent $381,000 to boost Georgescu-related content. This massive influx of support didn’t come from grassroots enthusiasm but rather from a well-funded, coordinated effort involving controversial figures with ties to Russian officials.
“These reports are inaccurate and misleading, as most candidates have established a TikTok presence and the winners campaigned on other digital platforms beyond ours,” a TikTok spokesperson said.
Despite TikTok’s denials, the evidence of manipulation is mounting. Romanian prosecutors have launched investigations into allegations of election fraud involving these social media campaigns. The probe extends beyond mere online activity, delving into complex financial transactions and potential links to organized crime networks.
Influencers on the Run
As the investigation heats up, many TikTok influencers implicated in the scandal have fled Romania. These digital personalities, some with alleged ties to criminal organizations, posted hasty farewell messages before disappearing. Their exodus came as Romanian authorities initiated financial probes following a referral from the country’s electoral authority.
“This investigation will also assess any causal links between those payments and a particular candidate in the Romanian presidential election,” Electoral Office Chief Toni Greblă said.
The scope of the financial aspect is jaw-dropping. Authorities seized $7 million in cryptocurrency from Bogdan Peșchir, a key figure alleged to have funded influencers with €1 million. This use of crypto adds another layer of complexity to the investigation, potentially obscuring the money trail leading back to Russian interests.
A Threat to Democracy
The implications of this scandal extend far beyond Romania’s borders. It represents a stark warning about the vulnerability of democratic processes to digital manipulation. The European Commission has taken notice, ordering TikTok to preserve all data related to the Romanian elections due to foreign interference concerns.
“I request the suspension of TikTok on the territory of Romania until the completion of the investigation by state institutions regarding the manipulation of the electoral process of the first round of the presidential elections,” Former Member of the Assembly of Deputies of Romania Pavel Popescu said.
As Romania grapples with this unprecedented assault on its democracy, the world watches closely.
