File photo for representational purposes only
Brussels, Belgium: The European Commission on Thursday said that it has stepped up its monitoring of TikTok in the context of Romania's elections, after receiving information about possible Russian interference.
Romanian authorities alleged that there has been Russian interference and "preferential treatment" of far-right presidential candidate Calin Georgescu by TikTok -- a claim the social network has denied.
Without commenting on any possible breach of rules by the platform, the Commission is demanding that TikTok "freeze and preserve data related to actual or foreseeable systemic risks its service could pose on electoral processes and civic discourse in the EU", according to a statement.
The Commission acts as the EU's digital watchdog, under the Digital Services Regulation (DSA), which came fully into force on February 17.
TikTok must also preserve internal documents and information regarding the design and functioning of its recommendation systems, the Commission said.
The platform has also been told to retain information on the way it addresses the risk of "intentional manipulation", the Commission's statement added.
Romania holds its presidential run-off election on Sunday, a key vote for the EU and NATO member bordering Ukraine.
Georgescu's nationalist discourse imbued with mysticism has hit the mark on social networks, particularly on TikTok, where his videos have been viewed millions of times.
Georgescu, a former senior civil servant, shocked the eastern European nation when he topped the first round of the presidential elections on November 24.
