POLITICO Tech TikTok’s reckoning in Romania
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Dec 5, 2024 Pieter Haeck, a POLITICO reporter, dives into the surprising rise of far-right candidate Călin Georgescu, fueled by TikTok's viral reach. He explores allegations of fake accounts and the impact of influencers on Romanian elections, raising questions about democratic integrity. The conversation shifts to TikTok's struggles with EU regulations and its tricky balance between censorship and free speech, while concerns about misinformation swirl. Haeck illustrates how social media's role in politics is reshaping trust in media and influencing geopolitics.
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Georgescu's Rise
- Călin Georgescu, a relatively unknown 62-year-old politician, unexpectedly won the first round of the Romanian presidential elections.
- His platform is described as ultra-nationalist, prioritizing Romanian self-sufficiency and echoing the US MAGA movement.
TikTok Scrutiny
- Georgescu's TikTok popularity differs from other candidates in its intensity, gaining millions of views and rapidly expanding his reach.
- While all candidates used TikTok, Georgescu's surge in the last two months raises questions about potential manipulation.
Suspected Tactics
- Experts suspect Georgescu may have used unproven tactics to boost his TikTok presence.
- These tactics include paying influencers and using fake accounts to circumvent TikTok's ban on political advertising.