BUCHAREST, Romania — TikTok took down several networks that tried to meddle in Romania’s elections, executives said Tuesday as they defended the company’s election integrity measures to European Union lawmakers.
The video-sharing platform is a focus of controversy in the Eastern European country after far-right outsider Calin Georgescu emerged as the frontrunner in the vote, plunging the country into turmoil amid allegations of electoral violations and Russian meddling.
Among the networks that TikTok uncovered were two small groups that it disrupted on Friday, days after the first round of voting, Brie Pegum, the platform’s global head of product, authenticity and transparency, told a committee.
Both networks targeted Romanian users. One had only 1,781 followers and supported Georgescu, who was a little-known independent candidate until he set off shockwaves by convincingly winning the first round of voting, beating out the incumbent prime minister. The other networks supported different candidates, Pegum said.
Many observers chalked up Georgescu’s success to his TikTok account, which now has 5.8 million likes and 527,000 followers.
He gained huge traction and popularity in the weeks leading up to the first vote. But experts suspect Georgescu’s online following was artificially inflated while officials hinted that he was given preferential treatment by TikTok.
The controversy highlights how TikTok has become a key election tool in Romania, an EU and NATO member state that shares a long border with war-torn Ukraine.
TikTok applied its “global playbook” for the Romanian election and took a local approach with staff on the ground, said Caroline Greer, the company’s top lobbyist in the EU.
Greer and Pegum were being grilled by EU lawmakers about Tiktok’s role in the Romanian vote as well as its compliance with the 27-nation bloc’s Digital Services Act, a sweeping set of regulations designed to protect users online from illegal or harmful content.
Greer said TikTok deployed 95 Romanian language content moderators, worked with a fact-checking group and met with political parties and a number of different authorities including the country’s electoral authority.
But many lawmakers were not satisfied with their responses.
“The feeling here is that we are losing patience … and that we need more specific answers,” said Dirk Gotink, a Dutch member of the European Parliament. He also questioned what the scores of Romanian content moderators were doing during the election, and compared Pegum and Greer to firefighters TikTok sent to put out a fire.
“They come, they let the fire rage online for weeks, months, during an election. And then they send very nice people here into this committee to answer questions in a very polite way,” Gotink said. “But it is simply not convincing — and it also doesn’t reflect what is happening online.”
According to a report by the Bucharest-based Expert Forum think tank, Georgescu’s TikTok account garnered 92.8 million views primarily within the last few months, a figure that grew by 52 million views a week later, just days ahead of the first-round vote.
Another TikTok account solely featuring Georgescu content, which had 1.7 million likes on the night first-round polls closed, was removed the day after voting. It had posts with Georgescu attending church, doing judo, running around an oval track, and speaking on podcasts.
In an emailed statement to The Associated Press on Monday, TikTok said the account was one of “more than 150 accounts impersonating Georgescu” to date that has been removed, but added: “We also removed more than 650 additional impersonation accounts belonging to other candidates.”
Georgescu will face reformist Elena Lasconi, of the progressive Save Romania Union party, in a presidential runoff on Sunday.
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AP Business Writer Kelvin Chan reported from London.
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This story corrects the spelling of lawmaker Dirk Gotink’s name.
Former United States women’s captain Megan Rapinoe has leapt to the defense of Barbra Banda amid fierce controversy surrounding the Zambia soccer player’s gender.
Banda, 24, is the latest women’s sports star facing questions over her gender after she was crowned BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year over in the UK this week, a decision which sparked outrage given she was left out of Zambia’s Africa Cup of Nations squad in 2022 on ‘gender eligibility grounds’.
It is believed team bosses became aware that the striker’s ‘testosterone levels’ were higher than those permitted by the Confederation of African Football, meaning she was excluded from her country’s squad at the major international tournament.
However, after recently helping OIrlando Pride win the NWSL championship, and scoring four goals at the Paris Olympics with Zambia over the summer, the BBC named Banda as its top women’s soccer star for 2024 earlier this week.
Her victory has been criticized by certain women’s rights groups and members of the soccer community after her exclusion from AFCON two years ago, yet Rapinoe has come out in support of the Orlando forward and congratulated her on winning the award.
In a post on her Instagram story, the World Cup winner shared a photo of Banda with the NWSL trophy and wrote: ‘You’ve thrilled, entertained and inspired us, and the world, all year long. This is so deserved as is every bit of your success. You stand so much taller than the tiny people trying to tear you down.
Ex-USWNT captain Megan Rapinoe has defended a soccer star embroiled in gender controversy
Zambia and Orlando Pride women’s striker Barbra Banda is facing questions over her gender
Rapinoe congratulated Banda on winning a women’s soccer award despite the outrage it caused
‘Proud as hell that you’re a womens footballer, pushing the games to new heights. We love you Babs’.
Rapinoe also added: ‘and to all the hateful little people out there hate hate hatin, HOP TF OFF, yall are sad.’
Banda’s award win has proved highly controversial, with author JK Rowling one of many to hit out at the BBC’s decision on social media.
Rowling shared a post on X reporting that Banda had scooped the women’s soccer prize and wrote: ‘Presumably the BBC decided this was more time efficient than going door to door to spit directly in women’s faces.’
The latest gender dispute comes after a turbulent summer involving women’s boxer Imane Khelif, who was accused of being a biological male while storming her way to a gold medal in the welterweight category at this summer’s Olympics.
The controversy came after Khelif was disqualified from the World Championships in 2023 by the International Boxing Associations (IBA) after it was claimed that she failed a gender eligibility test.
However, the Algerian insisted she was a woman and her father even produced her birth certificate which said she was born female.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) repeatedly defended her right to compete throughout the games, while the IBA’s test results and credibility were also called into question.
Earlier this month, a report in French magazine Le Correspondant – which is yet to be confirmed as legitimate – alleged that Khelif has ‘male characteristics’ and XY chromosomes, something she has repeatedly denied.
Appearing on Italian TV shortly after it was released, the Olympic champion attacked the journalist who leaked that unverified medical report and promised to take them to court.
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Megan Rapinoe defends Barbra Banda with soccer star embroiled in gender row after JK Rowling attack
Some Golden Bachelorette viewers were turned off by Pascal Ibgui’s behavior on the show. His daughter took up in his defense. Keep reading to find out what she had to say about her dad.
Golden Bachelorette Pascal Ibgui Upsets Viewers
Joan Vassos and Golden Bachelorette viewers were impressed when they first met Pascal Ibgui. The Paris, France, native, 69, exuded confidence and swagger. But viewers quickly picked up on some red flags and high maintenance behavior. He paid one of his housemates $100 to do his laundry for him. Pascal also seemed to enjoy showing off his clothes and lavish lifestyle.
He recently spoke out about fan backlash for his wealth. He told Glamour magazine that he worked hard for what he has.
His Daughter Defends His Behavior
Golden Bachelorette viewers met Pascal’s family during his Hometown Date in Chicago with Joan. Fans swooned over his son, Maxim, who looks exactly like his dad. Pascal also has two daughters, Sara and Natalie. Natalie has been outspoken on social media about her dad being on the reality show.
She jokingly reacted in horror to her dad taking part in the Chippendale stripper group date. But only his daughter is allowed to nitpick at her dad! Natalie took to social media to respond to allegations from Golden Bachelorette viewers that her father is a diva.
“Number 1. My dad is very open about being high maintenance. I know everyone’s like ‘Oh, he’s such a diva.’ He is a bit of a diva. You have to remember that this is reality TV. They want to make the show entertaining. That’s what the show is, it’s for entertainment.” she explained in a video posted on social media.
Pascal’s daughter added, “Yes, he is very high maintenance in a lot of ways. but what people don’t see is that he works so hard to be able to have all those things and to be able to have someone who does his laundry and to be able to have nice cars and have nice clothes.”
What’s Next For Pascal?
Pascal Ibgui was one of the three suitors who accompanied Joan Vassos to Tahiti for the Fantasy Suite dates. However, before the overnight date could happen, Pascal made a shocking confession that he wasn’t in love. He decided to leave the competition because he wasn’t ready for an engagement or a relationship.
But viewers could always see him on Golden Bachelor In Paradise if the network decides to go ahead with the spinoff. Meanwhile, viewers can check out Pascal’s salon in Chicago.
Do you think he was a diva on the Golden Bachelorette? Sound off in the comments.
Jennifer Havener grew up in a small town in Upstate New York. She earned her B.A in Writing & Literature from Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado. She always knew watching reality TV shows and soap operas, particularly ‘Days of Our Lives’, would come in handy someday. When she’s not writing, she’s playing with her dogs, Lola and Ruger
After being on the receiving end of flak from fans of US livestreamer iShowSpeed, following his first failed livestream in Singapore last month, Singaporean YouTuber and entrepreneur Tan Jianhao is ready to say his piece.
Jianhao had helped to make logistical arrangements for the controversial YouTube star’s trip to Singapore within short notice after the latter reached out to him requesting for a “tour guide”.
Besides procuring bodyguards, cars and motorbikes for iShowSpeed, or Speed for short, Jianhao had also made several recommendations on where he could stream from.
Speed had wanted to stream on the Transformers and Battlestar Galactica rides, where filming was prohibited because of intellectual property and safety reasons, Jianhao explained.
Enraged fans subsequently directed their anger at Jianhao, making disparaging remarks about him online.
In a video posted to his YouTube channel on Wednesday (Oct 2), Jianhao stepped out to explain for the first time what went on behind the scenes while also addressing the online vitriol thrown at him.
“It’s me, the L tour guide, and here I am sharing what actually went down with Speed’s first stream,” said Jianhao in the opening of the close to 30-minute clip, which was titled ‘Why iShowSpeed’s first stream in Singapore failed’.
In the video, Jianhao gave a blow-by-blow account of how it all went down, including showing screenshots of Speed’s request for a tour guide in Singapore just a day before his arrival on Sept 22.
“Naturally, I said yes,” said Jianhao, explaining that it’s what he would do for any overseas content creator who comes to Singapore.
The tricky part about the visit was that it was during the weekend of the Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix, where getting the necessary manpower would be a challenge.
It also didn’t help that Jianhao had a flight to catch on the evening of his planned visit, he added.
Addressing netizens’ queries as to why USS was selected as a venue for the stream despite its restrictions, Jianhao reiterated an earlier post he made on Instagram, where he shared that he had no say as to where or what Speed ultimately wanted to stream. “Who am I to tell him what to do with his content, right? I can only recommend.”
Jianhao also revealed the lengths that he’d gone to in order to help Speed including calling the “marketing director of Universal Studios” at 1am to acquire a permit for Speed to film at the park and for VIP escorts that same day.
“I wouldn’t even do this for myself,” said Jianhao, expressing his gratitude to USS for getting everything sorted practically overnight.
“They showed so much support, only for me to let them down,” Jianhao stated regretfully, ostensibly referring to the lost marketing opportunity for USS in addition to the negative publicity.
Jianhao also acknowledged the online derision and vitriol he received from fans when the stream was shut down at USS.
“[There were] a tonne of fans waiting, a tonne of fans throwing hate at me on my Telegram group chat and on my Instagram, which is fine. It doesn’t really matter so much; I know everyone wants a good stream, so do I,” said Jianhao.
He remarked, however, that he didn’t think “it was anything personal”.
“[The fans] wanted a good stream… Somehow when it didn’t happen, naturally the blame would go to the ‘tour guide’.”
Elaborating on why things didn’t work out, Jianhao teased in mock anger that perhaps he should have come down hard on the American teenager and told him, “No, you’re going to AJ Hackett right now because I booked it!
“Obviously i’m not going to do that.
“Maybe I respected him too much. Maybe he had a very strong idea of what Singapore was, but it didn’t turn out that way.”
In the video, Jianhao also went into extensive detail on the blips encountered along the way as well as the multiple change of plans due to decisions made by Speed.
In the end, all his efforts seemingly came to nought.
Jianhao reflected: “I honestly just wanted a good stream in Singapore. I didn’t want us to look bad compared to the other countries in Southeast Asia.”
Before arriving in Singapore, Speed had toured other Southeast Asian countries such as Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia.
Looking exasperated and defeated at times while describing the events of the day, the founder and CEO of Titan Digital Media expressed in the clip that he bore no grudge against Speed.
He explained that “there’s a difference between the chaos that a livestream brings and properly planned content”.
By the time he returned, it was too late to head anywhere else.
“I don’t think that he is to blame; it’s probably just bad decisions [made] overall,” surmised Jianhao.
He also shared that they drove to many places that day but they “just had very different viewpoints”.
“I felt like maybe what he expected was Thailand, Cambodia, Indonesia style, where you don’t have to get permits, anything can happen… there are things happening everywhere. But in Singapore, it’s really very organised, so content creators, you do have to plan a bit, because one day is definitely not enough to cover everything,” Jianhao added.
Handled logistics for Speed while overseas
After flying out to Cambodia the next day, however, Speed made a return to Singapore on Sept 24 with a second attempt to stream.
And even though Jianhao was already overseas, he revealed that he still took on the mantle to arrange the logistic requirements again for Speed. The role of ‘tour guide’ though was handed over to fellow Singaporean content creator Dew Francis.
“Ultimately, I have a lot of respect for Speed, I think that he works extremely hard… I also have to respect his ‘never say die’ attitude. On the first day, he never stopped trying,” said Jianhao, adding that when Speed came back for the second time, he was “more prepared”.
Adding somewhat paradoxically: “That’s great that he learnt that Singapore isn’t a place to be spontaneous. You can be spontaneous, but you just have to plan spontaneously.”
Responding to a netizen’s question as to why Speed did not come to his defence [only one of his crew members did] following the brickbats thrown at him, Jianhao’s conjecture was that this was “probably one of the smaller stuff” that the YouTube star comes across in his line of work.
“I accept the blame, it’s fine,” he added, expressing appreciation for those who felt indignant on his behalf.
Jianhao also graciously gave credit to fellow content creator Dew Francis for “redeeming Singapore”.
For the record, he also added that he didn’t think Speed only informing of his arrival the day before “was a big deal” as it was nothing new to him and he was ultimately able to pull it off.
But did he do it for clout, as some detractors had suggested?
“I felt like I was the right person to do it [and] I was able to do it… I did not plan any collaboration with him. I did not even get a photo with him,” said Jianhao.
“I wasn’t expecting to get anything out of it. I just wanted to do it for the sake of Singapore fans.”
The big question is though, would Jianhao still be a ‘tour guide’ for Speed should he return to our sunny shores?
“I don’t think his fans would want me to,” he said, although he added that if there wasn’t a stream happening, he’d gladly show him around.
“If it is a stream and his fans are waiting, I’ll probably pass on that one.”
He stated that he would, however, be more than willing to help Speed again logistically “with the cars and stuff”.
PARIS — Telegram founder and CEO Pavel Durov promised to step up efforts to fight criminality on the messaging app, his first public comments since French authorities handed him preliminary charges for allegedly allowing the platform’s use for criminal activity.
In a Telegram post late Thursday, Durov defended himself against the French judicial investigation, suggesting that he shouldn’t have been targeted personally.
“Using laws from the pre-smartphone era to charge a CEO with crimes committed by third parties on the platform he manages is a misguided approach,” the post said. “Building technology is hard enough as it is. No innovator will ever build new tools if they know they can be personally held responsible for potential abuse of those tools.”
While insisting that Telegram is not “some sort of anarchic paradise,” Durov said surging numbers of Telegram users “caused growing pains that made it easier for criminals to abuse our platform.”
“That’s why I made it my personal goal to ensure we significantly improve things in this regard. We’ve already started that process internally, and I will share more details on our progress with you very soon,” he said.
French investigators detained Durov at Le Bourget airport outside Paris in late August and questioned him for four days as part of a sweeping probe opened earlier this year. Released on 5 million euros bail, Durov has to report to a police station twice a week. Russia-born, he has amassed multiple citizenships, including French.
French allegations against Durov include that Telegram is used for child sexual abuse material and drug trafficking, and that the platform refused to share information or documents with investigators when required by law.
In his post, Durov said that while in police detention, “I was told I may be personally responsible for other people’s illegal use of Telegram, because the French authorities didn’t receive responses from Telegram.”
“This was surprising for several reasons,” he added.
He said Telegram has an official representative in the European Union who replies to EU requests, with a public email address.
Telegram’s website informs users that they can contact the app through a bot and includes a link to report illegal content. It also includes an email address and phone number for “competent authorities of the EU and EU members” to use. “If you are not a competent EU or EU member authority, your request will not be processed,” it says.
In his post, Durov said “French authorities had numerous ways to reach me to request assistance.” He said he also had previously worked with them to “establish a hotline with Telegram to deal with the threat of terrorism in France.”
“If a country is unhappy with an internet service, the established practice is to start a legal action against the service itself,” he said.
