The European Union on Monday 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.<\/p>\n
It is the second probe into a major online platform since Brussels introduced the Digital Services Act, after targeting tech billionaire Elon Musk\u2019s X in December.<\/p>\n
Brussels is particularly concerned that the video-sharing app owned by China\u2019s ByteDance may not be doing enough to address negative impacts on young people.<\/p>\n
A key worry is the so-called \u201crabbit hole\u201d effect \u2013 which occurs when users are fed related content based on an algorithm, in some cases leading to more dangerous content.<\/p>\n
The European Commission\u2019s concerns also include TikTok\u2019s age verification tools, which it said: \u201cmay not be reasonable, proportionate and effective\u201d.<\/p>\n
The commission opened \u201cformal proceedings to assess whether TikTok may have breached\u201d the DSA in other areas including \u201cadvertising transparency\u201d and \u201cdata access for researchers\u201d.<\/p>\n
The action comes after analysing a risk assessment report by TikTok and its replies to Brussels\u2019 requests for more information about what measures the video-sharing platform has taken against illegal content, the protection of minors and access to data.<\/p>\n
Regulators will continue to gather evidence, the commission said, adding that the move empowered it to take further enforcement steps if necessary.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs 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,\u201d said the EU\u2019s internal market commissioner, Thierry Breton.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe 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,\u201d Breton added.<\/p>\n
TikTok has over 142 million monthly users across the EU, up from 125 million last year.<\/p>\n
\u201cTikTok needs to take a close look at the services they offer and carefully consider the risks that they pose to their users \u2014 young as well as old,\u201d commission executive vice president Margrethe Vestager said.<\/p>\n
The formal probe will focus on four areas: how TikTok assesses and mitigates systemic risks; how the company is complying with protecting minors\u2019 privacy and safety; TikTok\u2019s measures on providing a \u201creliable\u201d advertisement repository and the steps taken to increase transparency.<\/p>\n
TikTok said it was working to protect minors online.<\/p>\n
\u201cTikTok has pioneered features and settings to protect teens and keep under 13s off the platform, issues the whole industry is grappling with,\u201d a TikTok spokesperson said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
There is no deadline for the completion of the proceedings.<\/p>\n
The DSA gives Brussels the power to levy heavy fines, with penalties for violations that can include fines going up to six percent of a digital firm\u2019s global revenues.<\/p>\n
The commission can even block platforms in the 27-nation bloc for serious and repeated violations.<\/p>\n
The EU law came into effect last year for the world\u2019s biggest online platforms including TikTok and X as well as Facebook and Instagram.<\/p>\n
The new rules demand companies do more to police content online but also expect digital retailers to act swiftly and effectively to protect shoppers online.<\/p>\n
The DSA law has applied to all platforms since February 17.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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