The European Union on Monday (Feb 19) announced a formal investigation into TikTok over alleged breaches of its obligations to protect minors online, under a landmark new law on policing digital content.
It is the second probe into a major online platform since Brussels introduced the Digital Services Act (DSA), after targeting tech billionaire Elon Musk’s X in December.
Brussels is particularly concerned that the video-sharing app owned by China’s ByteDance may not be doing enough to address negative impacts on young people.
A key worry is the so-called “rabbit hole” effect – which occurs when users are fed related content based on an algorithm, in some cases leading to more dangerous content.
The European Commission’s concerns also include TikTok’s age verification tools, which it said “may not be reasonable, proportionate and effective”.
The commission opened “formal proceedings to assess whether TikTok may have breached” the DSA in other areas including “advertising transparency” and “data access for researchers”.
The action comes after analysing a risk assessment report by TikTok and its replies to Brussels’ requests for more information about what measures the video-sharing platform has taken against illegal content, the protection of minors and access to data.
Regulators will continue to gather evidence, the commission said, adding that the move empowered it to take further enforcement steps if necessary.
“As a platform that reaches millions of children and teenagers, TikTok must fully comply with the DSA and has a particular role to play in the protection of minors online,” said the EU’s internal market commissioner, Thierry Breton.
“We are launching this formal infringement proceeding today to ensure that proportionate action is taken to protect the physical and emotional well-being of young Europeans. We must spare no effort to protect our children,” Breton added.
TikTok has over 142 million monthly users across the EU, up from 125 million last year.
“TikTok needs to take a close look at the services they offer and carefully consider the risks that they pose to their users – young as well as old,” commission executive vice president Margrethe Vestager said.
AFP
