POLITICO Tech Police raids, fleeing TikTokers and Romania’s cancelled election
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Dec 17, 2024 Andrei Popoviciu, a Romanian freelance investigative journalist, dives into the shocking cancellation of Romania's presidential election amidst allegations of Russian interference via TikTok influencers. He discusses the rise of a far-right candidate and the crisis of misinformation surrounding the situation. The conversation highlights the urgent need for greater transparency among social media influencers and confronts TikTok’s responsibility in managing election disinformation. Popoviciu sheds light on how these events could reshape future European elections.
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Romanian Election Cancelled
- Romania canceled a presidential election due to foreign interference concerns on social media.
- This unprecedented event involved a far-right candidate, Giorgiosco, who gained popularity through TikTok.
Declining Trust in Institutions
- Public trust in Romanian institutions is declining due to the election's cancellation.
- Supporters of both candidates are disappointed, with some believing the cancellation was politically motivated.
TikTok Campaign Tactics
- Giorgiosco's TikTok campaign involved paying influencers to promote specific candidate traits and using hashtags to attract bot activity.
- This subtle campaign, combined with investigations linking his campaign to Russian influence, raised concerns about election interference.