EU Orders TikTok to Freeze Romanian Elections Data

A TikTok logo is displayed on a smartphone in this illustration taken January 6, 2020. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/File Photo/File Photo
A TikTok logo is displayed on a smartphone in this illustration taken January 6, 2020. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/File Photo/File Photo
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EU Orders TikTok to Freeze Romanian Elections Data

A TikTok logo is displayed on a smartphone in this illustration taken January 6, 2020. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/File Photo/File Photo
A TikTok logo is displayed on a smartphone in this illustration taken January 6, 2020. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/File Photo/File Photo

The European Union has ordered social media firm TikTok to freeze data linked to the Romanian elections, it said in a statement on Thursday.

EU officials issued a "retention order" under the bloc's wide-sweeping Digital Services Act, which regulates how the world's biggest social media companies operate in Europe.

The move comes on the same day the United States voiced concerns over potential foreign interference in Romania's elections, after pro-Russia ultranationalist Calin Georgescu surged to victory in the first round of the presidential contest on Nov. 24, Reuters reported.

Far-right parties also performed well in Romania's parliamentary election last Sunday, though the ruling leftist Social Democrats emerged as the largest party and hope to cobble together a pro-EU coalition government.

Documents declassified by Romanian security officials on Wednesday showed Georgescu was massively promoted on social media platform TikTok through coordinated accounts, recommendation algorithms and paid promotion. Georgescu himself declared zero funds spent in the campaign.

The documents suggested Romania had been the target of "aggressive hybrid Russian attacks". Russia has denied any interference in Romania's election campaigns.

If Georgescu claims victory in this Sunday's runoff vote, he will likely try to isolate Romania abroad and reverse its pro-EU approach, analysts and diplomats have said.

A Tiktok spokesperson said: "We have already been cooperating with the (European) Commission and will continue to do so. We look forward to establishing the facts in light of some of the speculation and inaccurate reports we have seen."



Hungarian Companies to Invest in Technology, Digitalization in Saudi Arabia

The Saudi-Hungarian Business Forum was held in Riyadh. SPA
The Saudi-Hungarian Business Forum was held in Riyadh. SPA
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Hungarian Companies to Invest in Technology, Digitalization in Saudi Arabia

The Saudi-Hungarian Business Forum was held in Riyadh. SPA
The Saudi-Hungarian Business Forum was held in Riyadh. SPA

A coalition of 25 specialized Hungarian companies is preparing to invest in Saudi Arabia's technology and digital transformation sectors, aiming to capitalize on the abundant opportunities presented by the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, it was announced during the Saudi-Hungarian Business Forum in Riyadh.
Wednesday’s event, organized by the Federation of Saudi Chambers, was attended by several dignitaries, including Hungarian Parliament Deputy Speaker Istvan Jakab, Saudi-Hungarian Business Council chairman Marwan Al-Mutlaq, Shura Council Saudi-Hungarian Parliamentary Friendship Committee chairman Dr. Ibrahim bin Mohammad Al-Qannas, Hungarian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Balazs Selmeci, and various Saudi investors.
Jakab highlighted the strong relationship between the Shura Council and the Federation of Saudi Chambers, noting the establishment of the Hungarian-Saudi Holding Company last year. The company represents a coalition of Hungarian firms in the digital transformation sector, focused on investing in Saudi Arabia and forming partnerships with local investors in technology, finance, and food industries.