The European Union has announced a probe into whether ByteDance’s TikTok is complying with regulations that require large social media platforms to protect minors’ safety and privacy, as well as reduce the risk of users becoming addicted to the company’s content. The EU will also investigate whether the platform has sufficient transparency about advertisements, as well as enough data access for researchers to analyze potential online risks.
Any potential infractions would violate the Digital Services Act, a sweeping law that went into effect in August 2023. TikTok has nearly 136 million active users in the EU, but its age verification tools might not be “reasonable, proportionate and effective,” the European Commission said.
The investigation will review the platform’s system design, such as algorithms that could stimulate behavioral addictions. If found guilty of breaking DSA regulations, ByteDance could face fines of up to 6% of its annual global revenue.
“TikTok has pioneered features and settings to protect teens and keep under 13s off the platform, issues the whole industry is grappling with,” a TikTok spokesperson said. “We’ll continue to work with experts and industry to keep young people on TikTok safe and look forward to now having the opportunity to explain this work in detail to the commission.”
