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EU Launches Investigation into TikTok Over Election Interference

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On Tuesday, the European Commission officially opened formal proceedings against TikTok over concerns regarding its failure to prevent election interference, particularly during Romania’s presidential election last month.

Focus of the Investigation

The Commission’s investigation will primarily examine TikTok’s policies on political advertisements, including paid political content, and the platform’s recommendation systems to determine whether they could be manipulated to influence elections. TikTok will be required to provide detailed information about its content moderation practices and the risks associated with these systems.

The investigation, which could lead to further enforcement actions or commitments from TikTok, has no set timeline for completion. However, the opening of formal proceedings allows the Commission to take further steps if necessary.

TikTok’s Defense

In response, TikTok, owned by China’s Bytedance, defended its actions, stating that it had safeguarded the integrity of its platform across more than 150 elections globally. TikTok emphasized that it does not accept paid political advertisements and actively removes content that violates its policies, such as misinformation and hate speech.

On December 5, the European Commission ordered TikTok to freeze data related to the Romanian election under the Digital Services Act (DSA), which governs the operation of major social media companies in Europe. The Romanian court later annulled the election due to allegations of Russian interference and the victory of pro-Russia ultranationalist Calin Georgescu.

Broader Context and Future Elections

The Commission is concerned about potential foreign interference in upcoming elections, such as Germany’s parliamentary election in February and Croatia’s presidential election starting on December 29. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen expressed the need to act swiftly and firmly against any foreign interference, particularly during elections.

This marks the third investigation the European Commission has opened against TikTok under the DSA, with previous cases focusing on risks to minors. One investigation was closed after TikTok agreed to remove its TikTok Lite Rewards program in the EU.

 

European Influencers’ Photos Used for Pro-Trump Propaganda on Fake X Accounts

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Debbie Nederlof, a 32-year-old German fashion influencer, is among several European women whose photos have been stolen to support pro-Trump propaganda on X (formerly Twitter). Despite having no involvement in U.S. politics, Nederlof’s images have been used to promote Donald Trump and his running mate, Senator JD Vance, misleadingly portraying her as a fervent supporter of the “Make America Great Again” movement.

Nederlof, who lives in Trier, Germany, expressed her frustration upon discovering that her photos, including those featuring her dog, were being used to push political agendas she doesn’t support. “To be honest, ‘what the f**k?’ was my reaction. I have nothing to do with U.S. politics,” she told reporters. She is one of 17 European women identified whose images have been misappropriated to fuel political disinformation on the platform.

The fake X accounts using these photos exhibit a coordinated effort to manipulate public opinion ahead of the 2024 U.S. presidential election. These accounts, often featuring images of young, attractive women, share pro-Trump and conspiratorial content, including claims about election rigging and false narratives about political figures. They also often post similar messages and hashtags, creating an illusion of widespread support for Trump.

Investigations by CNN and the Centre for Information Resilience (CIR) revealed that many of these fake accounts, which have rapidly gained followers, use stolen or AI-generated images. While X has recently removed many of these accounts, the challenge remains significant. “I’ve tried reporting these accounts, but I’ve been told there’s not enough proof,” Nederlof noted.

This incident highlights broader concerns about the misuse of personal images online and the effectiveness of current safeguards. Despite X’s policies against impersonation and intellectual property theft, the platform has struggled to address the issue effectively. The Digital Services Act in the European Union aims to regulate such problems, but enforcement remains a challenge.

The use of these images for political purposes underscores a troubling trend in online manipulation and highlights the ongoing risks of foreign interference in democratic processes. The European influencers affected by this misuse of their images emphasize the need for better protections and accountability from social media platforms to prevent such abuses in the future.