The European Union has launched a formal investigation into TikTok for not restricting election interference in Romania

The European Commission on Tuesday opened formal investigation proceedings against TikTok for failing to limit election interference, particularly in Romania's presidential election last month.

The European Commission said it would request information and investigate TikTok's policies on political advertising and paid political content, as well as TikTok's system for generating recommendations and its risk of being manipulated.

TikTok says it has maintained its impartiality in more than 150 elections around the world and has provided extensive information to the European Commission. It does not accept paid political ads and proactively removes content that violates its disinformation and hate speech policies.

The European Commission on Dec. 5 ordered TikTok to freeze data related to the Romanian election under the EU's comprehensive Digital Services Act.

Romania's Supreme Court subsequently annulled the presidential election, which was won in the first round by Pro-Russian ultranationalist Calin Georgescu, over alleged Russian interference.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the new investigation comes after serious indications of foreign interference in Romania's presidential election.

In a statement, she said: "We must protect our democracy from any form of foreign interference. Whenever we suspect such interference, especially during elections, we must act swiftly and firmly."