The European Commission has stated that TikTok has broken the EU's Digital Services Act. The Commission believes TikTok's design makes its platform addictive. This is especially worrying for young users. The announcement on Friday means more rules for TikTok. The company must change its design or pay large fines. The investigation started in February 2024. It looks at how TikTok handles risks from its features.
The Commission found that TikTok did not check well enough for harm to users. This includes harm to children from features like auto-playing videos. Authorities say TikTok has not done enough to stop these risks. The investigation is looking at continuous scrolling and notifications. It also looks at personalized recommendations. The Commission thinks these features are made to keep people using the app for a long time. They also say screen time tools are not good enough and are easy to get around.
Henna Virkkunen, an EU tech leader, said, "The Digital Services Act makes platforms responsible for their users." This shows the EU wants companies to be accountable for how their services affect people.
A TikTok spokesperson disagreed with the findings. They said the description of their platform is "entirely meritless." TikTok plans to challenge this decision.
This ruling has big consequences. If TikTok does not make the required changes in the EU, it could be fined up to 6% of its global income. The Commission suggests adding "screen time breaks" at night. They also want changes to how videos are recommended. Turning off "infinite scroll" is another idea.
This action is not to ban TikTok in the EU. It is about making tech companies follow digital safety rules. The EU wants them to address how their products affect people's health. This case could set an example for other digital platforms.