Online platform
EU Commission opens proceedings against TikTok
The EU Commission is opening proceedings against the online platform TikTok. photo
© Kiichiro Sato/AP/dpa
After Elon Musk’s Platform X, the EU Commission is now targeting TikTok. Under a new EU law, the authority is taking action against the Chinese platform – severe penalties are on the cards.
The European Commission is opening proceedings against the online platform TikTok. The aim is to check whether the online giant is taking enough action against the spread of illegal content and whether it is violating EU rules in areas such as youth protection and advertising transparency, as the authority announced in Brussels on Monday. The possible misconduct also involves the fact that TikTok may not be doing enough to ensure that the app does not promote addictive behavior. Specifically, the Commission suspects algorithms that stimulate dependencies or can trigger a so-called rabbit hole effect.
Addiction risk and youth protection concerns
This effect – often based on the story Alice in Wonderland – roughly describes the phenomenon of getting very intensely lost in a topic and not being able to tear yourself away from it. Algorithms – in simple terms, instructions for computers written by humans – can theoretically recognize and exploit such behavioral patterns so that users spend more time on a platform.
Protective measures for minors such as age verification to protect minors may not be effective, the commission said. According to the company, the platform is intended for people who are at least 13 years old. The company’s website states: “This is why it is crucial that teenagers provide their correct date of birth.”
New EU law in force
The commission had already carried out a preliminary investigation, the results of which led to the formal proceedings now initiated against TikTok. Almost exactly two months ago, Brussels opened similar proceedings against X (formerly Twitter). Among other things, this involved references to illegal and misleading contributions to the Gaza war. Online platforms are obliged by a new EU law on digital services (DSA) to take strict action against illegal content such as hate speech and hate speech online.
Since the law came into force, the Brussels authority has sent a list of questions to some large online platforms, including Facebook’s parent company Meta and Snapchat. For example, they had to provide information about how they protect the mental health of young people.
Platforms must provide their users with information about ads – for example, why the ads are being shown to them and who paid for the advertising. In addition, minors should be given special protection. It is forbidden to specifically target them with advertising that is based on personal data.
A high penalty is in the offing
The EU Commission also wants to investigate whether enough is being done to ensure sufficient privacy. This involves, for example, which data protection settings are set as standard for minors. It will also be examined whether a searchable directory for the advertisements presented on TikTok meets the legal requirements. In addition, the EU Commission has doubts as to whether researchers will have sufficient access to TikTok data as required.
If the Commission comes to a final conclusion that TikTok is violating the DSA, fines of up to six percent of its annual global turnover could be imposed. The EU Commission is responsible for monitoring the online giants. For smaller providers, such as the online market Kleinanzeigen.de, in Germany this is the Federal Network Agency.
The commission can also impose penalty payments of up to five percent of the average global daily turnover – for each day that the company does not implement promised measures. According to reports, TikTok has an annual turnover of several billion euros. The company itself does not publish any figures. There is no deadline for the procedure that has now been initiated. How long the investigation will take is unclear. According to the Brussels authority, the length depends on how complicated a case is and how cooperatively a company works with the Commission. It is also unclear what the outcome of the investigation will be.
TikTok Guide for Parents Press release from the EU Commission Post from EU Commissioner Thierry Breton