The European Union opens an investigation targeting TikTok for possible breaches in the protection of minors

The investigation must in particular determine whether the Chinese platform sufficiently protects minors from inappropriate content and addictive or negative effects on mental health.

Brussels is raising its voice. The European Union announced, Monday February 19, the opening of an investigation targeting the social network TikTok, to determine whether the Chinese platform has failed to fulfill its obligations in terms of protection of minor users and transparency, imposed by the regulation on digital services (DSA).

This “formal procedure” will in particular attempt to determine whether TikTok, owned by the Chinese group ByteDance, is doing enough to limit the possible negative effects on the mental health of its minor users. The platform is regularly accused of locking users into spirals of negative, even dangerous, content via its recommendation algorithm.

The investigation will also assess whether the platform “ensures a high level of privacy, safety and security” for these same users, as well as “transparency of advertising” And “access to data for researchers”explains the EU in a press release. “As a platform reaching millions of children and adolescents, TikTok has a special role to play in protecting minors online”who is “one of the main priorities of the DSA”declared the European Commissioner for the Internal Market, Thierry Breton.

X is already in Brussels’ sights

The platform defended itself, via a spokesperson, by emphasizing that “TikTok was the first to offer features and settings designed to protect teenagers and prevent those under 13 from accessing the platform” and “the entire sector” was faced with these questions. “We will continue to work with experts and the industry to keep young people safe on TikTok and we look forward to now having the opportunity to explain this work in detail to the Commission [européenne]“added the company, which claims more than 134 million monthly users in the EU.

The DSA, which came into full force on Saturday February 17, imposes obligations on all online platforms to better protect users against illegal content. Violators face heavy fines (up to 6% of their annual global turnover), or even a ban on operating in Europe in the event of serious and repeated violations.

This is the second procedure of this type targeting a social network within the framework of new European DSA rules, after the investigation against the circulation of violent images or incitement to hatred. “The opening of a formal infringement procedure does not prejudge its outcome”underlines the European Commission, and no time limit is set for this type of investigation.