In major election drama, Romania is gearing up for a re-run after last December's presidential elections were suddenly canceled amid controversies. The initial surprise victory of far-right candidate Calin Georgescu, who was untraceable before the polls, raised eyebrows with allegations of Russian meddling and TikTok influencer propaganda. Although Moscow denied the claims, Georgescu has been barred from running and is under criminal investigation for undermining the constitutional order.
An explosion in TikTok popularity propelled Georgescu to nearly 23% of the votes, even as reports revealed his social media rise was suspiciously orchestrated by over 100 influencers and fake accounts, hinting at a substantial effort to artificially enhance his image. This situation was exacerbated by the discovery that the campaign boosting the hashtag "stability and integrity" was secretly funded by the National Liberal Party, whose own candidate was sidelined.
Notably, TikTok's algorithm appears to have been gamed, flooding unrelated posts with supportive comments for Georgescu and pushing his videos into mainstream feeds. TikTok has stated it took measures to combat this influence network. Meanwhile, the arrest of the prominent influencer known as the "King of TikTok" for allegedly using financial incentives to sway voters adds another twist to the tale. Ongoing investigations continue to seek clarity on what really happened, with outrage mounting over the lack of tangible evidence related to foreign interference claims.
With the first round of elections approaching, the pressure is on for authorities to unravel these complex influence operations before the Romanian public heads to the polls once more.
An explosion in TikTok popularity propelled Georgescu to nearly 23% of the votes, even as reports revealed his social media rise was suspiciously orchestrated by over 100 influencers and fake accounts, hinting at a substantial effort to artificially enhance his image. This situation was exacerbated by the discovery that the campaign boosting the hashtag "stability and integrity" was secretly funded by the National Liberal Party, whose own candidate was sidelined.
Notably, TikTok's algorithm appears to have been gamed, flooding unrelated posts with supportive comments for Georgescu and pushing his videos into mainstream feeds. TikTok has stated it took measures to combat this influence network. Meanwhile, the arrest of the prominent influencer known as the "King of TikTok" for allegedly using financial incentives to sway voters adds another twist to the tale. Ongoing investigations continue to seek clarity on what really happened, with outrage mounting over the lack of tangible evidence related to foreign interference claims.
With the first round of elections approaching, the pressure is on for authorities to unravel these complex influence operations before the Romanian public heads to the polls once more.
