Key Points:
- The EU Commission praised TikTok for being “extremely cooperative” in an ongoing probe.
- The investigation focuses on potential interference in the 2024 Romanian elections.
- The EU opened formal proceedings against TikTok in December 2024.
- Regulators say TikTok has already taken several measures to address concerns.
The European Commission has given TikTok a rare thumbs-up for its behavior during an ongoing high-stakes investigation. On Wednesday, Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier described the social media giant as “extremely cooperative” regarding a probe into potential election interference during the 2024 Romanian presidential vote.
This positive tone stands in stark contrast to the often combative relationship between European regulators and major tech companies. Regnier highlighted that TikTok isn’t just answering questions but is actively taking steps to fix the problems identified by the EU.
“This also shows that when you want to engage with the Commission, we are very happy to engage with you,” Regnier told reporters. “TikTok is very cooperative. They have taken a number of measures.”
The investigation began late last year, in December 2024, when the European Union officially opened formal proceedings against the video-sharing platform. The main concern was whether TikTok did enough to stop bad actors from manipulating the Romanian presidential elections. At the time, officials worried that the app’s algorithms might have amplified fake news or foreign propaganda, potentially swaying the outcome of the vote.
Under the EU’s strict Digital Services Act (DSA), platforms have a legal responsibility to mitigate systemic risks, including threats to democratic processes. If a company fails to do so, it can face massive fines worth up to 6% of its global annual revenue. By cooperating fully, TikTok seems keen to avoid these heavy penalties and prove it can operate responsibly within Europe.
While the investigation is still ongoing, the Commission’s public praise suggests that TikTok is trying hard to stay on the right side of the law. This approach might serve as a lesson for other platforms currently under the EU’s microscope.
Instead of fighting the regulators, TikTok is opening its doors and making changes, a strategy that—at least for now—seems to be working in its favor.
