Researchers Accuse Big Tech of Blocking DSA Data Access in EU

European researchers are accusing Big Tech of stonewalling their efforts to study social media harms, as a case involving TikTok and the Romanian election highlights persistent data access problems. In the weeks before Romania’s 2024 presidential vote, TikTok accounts that had long posted about mundane topics suddenly promoted far‑right candidate Calin Georgescu. His posts were viewed 120 million times and helped him win the first round with 23 percent, despite single‑digit polling earlier. Source: Ars Technica Source: Wired

Researcher Denied API Access

Adriana Iamnitchi, chair of computational social sciences at Maastricht University, sought to investigate how pro‑Georgescu content was monetized via hidden influencer marketing and livestreams. On October 28, 2025, her team applied for TikTok’s API under the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA). TikTok denied the request, stating the researchers failed to prove they were established researchers, explain commercial interests, or meet security requirements. Source: Ars Technica Source: Wired

TikTok’s Subsequent Action

Two months later, TikTok flagged over 116,000 accounts as potentially compromised and removed more than 27,000 fake accounts linked to a “fake engagement vendor” promoting Georgescu. TikTok said it did not know who ran the network or its origin. Source: Ars Technica Source: Wired Meanwhile, declassified Romanian intelligence indicated that Russia allegedly coordinated the online campaign and that Georgescu benefited from preferential treatment by TikTok.