Romania: an influence operation on TikTok causes presidential election to be canceled

On December 6, 2024, the Romanian Constitutional Court decided to annul the country’s presidential election, the second round of which was scheduled for Sunday, December 8, 2024. The day before, Romanian intelligence declassified and made public documents revealing a large-scale manipulation campaign on TikTok. This operation had supported the rise of Calin Georgescu, a far-right, pro-Russian candidate, who had surprisingly qualified for the second round.

The Constitutional Court stated that it annulled “the entire electoral process concerning the election of the president of Romania,” which “will restart in its entirety.” The institution added that its decision, unanimously voted, is “final” and “binding” and that it was taken “to ensure the accuracy and legality” of the elections. A new electoral schedule must now be established.

Almost unknown when he announced his candidacy in January 2024, Calin Georgescu, 62, conducted his campaign almost exclusively on TikTok. Romanian intelligence denounced an “aggressive promotional operation, in violation of electoral legislation,” which allowed him to quickly gain popularity. The secret services attributed this to “significant external interference,” strongly implying that it originated from Russia.

Those responsible for this campaign offered payments to local influencers, starting at $100 (€106) for 20,000 followers. In return, influencers were asked to post a video on TikTok, calling for votes for an “ideal candidate” without explicitly naming him. Fake TikTok accounts then massively commented on each video with messages supporting Georgescu.

Fraudulent TikTok accounts also posted videos in support of the candidate, illegally using official institution logos. Additionally, 85,000 cyberattacks originating from 33 countries targeted Romanian electoral systems, aiming, among other things, to alter information provided to the public.