Reuters reporting – The European Union has initiated an investigation into TikTok, owned by ByteDance, to ascertain whether the social media platform has violated online content regulations designed to safeguard children and ensure advertising transparency.
EU industry chief Thierry Breton announced the probe, which will examine concerns including TikTok’s adherence to obligations related to protecting minors from addictive content, implementing effective age verification, and maintaining default privacy settings. This investigation under the Digital Services Act (DSA) puts TikTok at risk of facing fines amounting to up to 6% of its global turnover, highlighting the EU’s stringent stance on enforcing online safety and transparency standards.
TikTok responded to the EU’s concerns by stating its commitment to the safety of young users on its platform, emphasizing its pioneering efforts in introducing features and settings aimed at protecting teenagers and preventing children under 13 from accessing the platform. The company expressed its intention to collaborate closely with experts and the industry to address these challenges and is prepared to discuss its measures and policies with the European Commission in detail. This response reflects TikTok’s recognition of the importance of compliance with regulatory expectations and its ongoing efforts to enhance user safety and privacy.
The European Commission’s investigation will scrutinize TikTok’s system design, including its algorithmic mechanisms, to determine their potential in promoting behavioral addictions and creating ‘rabbit hole effects’ that may harm minors. Additionally, the inquiry will assess the adequacy of TikTok’s measures in ensuring privacy, safety, and security for its younger audience.
The probe will also evaluate TikTok’s transparency in providing a reliable database for advertising content, enabling researchers to study potential online risks. This development marks the second DSA investigation, following a similar scrutiny faced by Elon Musk’s social media platform X, underscoring the EU’s proactive approach in regulating digital platforms to protect users, particularly minors, from online risks.
