27.11.2025

Today, 27 November 2025, the National Authority for Management and Regulation in Communications (ANCOM), as the Digital Services Coordinator (DSC) in Romania, organized two working meetings in hybrid format regarding the application of the Digital Services Act (DSA) in the electoral context. The first meeting was dedicated to informing the members of constituency electoral bureaus and offices, while the second meeting brought together representatives of the candidates running in the local by-elections of 7 December 2025.

The meetings aimed to gain a better understanding of how to apply the DSA, the role of the Digital Services Coordinator and other entities involved in the conduct of upcoming elections, the policies and measures imposed by online platforms and, at the same time, how to act to ensure compliance with the legal framework.

The meetings aimed to gain a better understanding of how to apply the Digital Services Act (DSA), clarify the role of the Digital Services Coordinator and other entities involved in the upcoming elections, review the policies and measures imposed by online platforms, and outline actions to ensure full compliance with the legal framework.

Application of the DSA in the electoral context

All entities that have attributions regarding the conduct of the electoral process in the offline environment have the same attributions in the online environment. Under national rules, these authorities can rule on potentially illegal content in the electoral context, either on their own initiative or in response to complaints from users, candidates, political parties or other third parties.

In other words, authorities with offline competences in a certain field have the same competences online, enabling them to take action against illegal content online within their domain.

In the electoral context, the Commission's Guidelines for providers of very large online platforms and very large online search engines on mitigating systemic risks to electoral processes pursuant to Article 35(3) of Regulation (EU) 2022/2065 are also applicable.

ANCOM's role as Digital Services Coordinator (DSC)

ANCOM has been working closely with all relevant authorities since taking on the role of Digital Services Coordinator, providing them with all the information necessary to carry out their duties online. In the context of the Digital Services Act, ANCOM is the Digital Services Coordinator in Romania, but in this capacity, it does not rule on the legality of content that is within the scope of activity of the relevant authorities.

As the Digital Services Coordinator, ANCOM is responsible for all aspects related to the supervision and enforcement of the DSA in Romania. ANCOM aims to comply with the obligations incumbent on online platforms established on the national territory in accordance with the DSA and collaborates with other relevant national authorities so that they implement the necessary measures for reporting illegal content in their respective fields of activity. 

Additional information

To strengthen understanding of the DSA provisions, ANCOM has been disseminating information on the mechanisms provided by the DSA that can contribute to ensuring a fair and balanced electoral process, reporting illegal content, the rights and mechanisms for challenging restrictions on content posted on online platforms.

More information on the Digital Services Act and ANCOM's role in its implementation is available in the dedicated section of the ANCOM InfoCentre.