The European Union made an official announcement on Monday regarding the initiation of a formal investigation into TikTok, focusing on suspected violations of its obligations to safeguard minors in the digital sphere, by significant new legislation governing the regulation of digital content.
This investigation marks the second instance of a major online platform being subjected to scrutiny since Brussels introduced the Digital Services Act (DSA), following a previous investigation into tech mogul Elon Musk's X in December.
The primary concern of EU authorities revolves around whether the video-sharing platform, owned by China's ByteDance, adequately addresses the potential adverse impacts on young individuals, particularly in light of the "rabbit hole" effect. This phenomenon occurs when users are exposed to related content through algorithms, sometimes leading to the consumption of more harmful material.
Among the specific areas of concern highlighted by the European Commission are TikTok's age verification mechanisms, which are being questioned for their effectiveness, proportionality, and reasonableness. Additionally, the commission has opened formal proceedings to assess potential breaches by TikTok in other aspects such as advertising transparency and access to data for researchers.
The decision to launch a formal infringement proceeding follows a thorough examination of a risk assessment report submitted by TikTok, along with the platform's responses to requests from Brussels for additional information regarding its measures against illicit content, protection of minors, and data accessibility.
EU Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton emphasized the importance of ensuring full compliance with the DSA by TikTok, given its extensive reach among children and teenagers. Breton underscored the necessity of taking decisive action to safeguard the physical and emotional well-being of young Europeans, asserting that no effort should be spared in protecting children.
With over 142 million monthly users in the EU, TikTok faces scrutiny over various aspects of its operations, including risk assessment and mitigation practices, privacy and safety measures for minors, advertisement repository reliability, and transparency initiatives.
In response, TikTok reiterated its commitment to online safety for minors, highlighting its efforts to introduce features and settings aimed at protecting teenagers and preventing underage users from accessing the platform.
The formal investigation carries significant consequences, as the DSA grants the European Commission the authority to impose substantial fines, amounting to up to six percent of a digital company's global revenues, in cases of non-compliance. Moreover, for severe and recurrent violations, the commission retains the power to block platforms within the 27-nation bloc.
The DSA, which applies to major online platforms such as TikTok and X, as well as social media giants like Facebook and Instagram, came into effect last year, ushering in a new era of heightened regulation aimed at ensuring greater accountability and protection for users in the digital realm.
