After the social network august.
The European Commission explained that it had opened this in-depth investigation to determine whether TikTok violated several points of the DSA. The concerns of the European digital policeman relate in particular to “the protection of minors”, “the transparency of advertising”, “access to data for researchers” as well as the “risks linked to the addictive design” of the platform and “harmful content”.
The investigation will focus in particular on the means implemented to reduce the risks “arising from the design of the TikTok system, including algorithmic systems, which can stimulate behavioral addictions”. It also involves examining “the age verification tools used by TikTok to prevent minors from accessing inappropriate content.” “As a platform reaching millions of children and adolescents, TikTok has a particular role to play in the protection of minors online (…), one of the major priorities of the DSA,” declared the European Commissioner for the Internal Market, Thierry Breton. The Commission wants to ensure that TikTok takes the necessary measures to protect the physical and emotional well-being of young Europeans. Very popular among young people, TikTok claims more than 134 million monthly users in the EU. Last November, Brussels announced that it was opening an investigation into the measures implemented by the social network TikTok and the site of sharing YouTube videos to protect minors, including their “mental and physical health.” It had asked the two companies “to provide more information on the measures (…) taken to comply with their obligations regarding the protection of minors” under the new EU legislation on digital services .
“TikTok was the first to offer features and settings intended to protect adolescents and prevent those under 13 from accessing the platform,” responded a spokesperson for the company, emphasizing that all of the sector” was confronted with these questions.
The investigation also concerns “alleged failures in researchers’ access to TikTok data”, an obligation to enable authorities to verify compliance with the new regulation. The Commission will now seek to collect evidence, for example by sending requests for additional information, conducting interviews or inspections. No time limit is set for this type of investigation. This procedure can lead to heavy financial sanctions in the event of proven and prolonged violations of the regulations. In extreme cases, fines can reach 6% of the global turnover of the groups involved, or even a ban on operating in Europe in the event of serious and repeated violations. But, as Brussels always reminds us, “the opening of a formal infringement procedure does not prejudge its outcome”.
