According to a statement from the EU Commission, TikTok will be assessed whether it violates the DSA’s rules on “child protection, transparent advertising, data access for researchers and the risks of harmful content with the addictive design of the platform”.
The formal investigation was launched following a preliminary investigation following TikTok’s report to the Commission in September 2023 and responses to information requests.
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In the statement, it was pointed out that there was a suspicion that other measures implemented, in particular the age verification system used by TikTok to prevent minors from accessing inappropriate content, were “not sufficient, appropriate and effective”.
The investigation will also examine whether the platform has taken “adequate and proportionate measures to ensure a high level of privacy and security for minors.
It will also examine the negative impact of the platform’s addictive design, including algorithms, on the protection of children’s rights, physical and mental health, and radicalization.
Other aspects of the investigation will include the compliance of advertisements on the social media platform with the DSA and “suspected deficiencies” in providing investigators with access to the platform’s publicly available data.
The EU law that came into force in August 2023 imposed strict rules on major digital platforms.
The EU can impose fines of up to 6 percent of global turnover on digital platforms that violate the rules. In case of repeated violations, the digital platforms in question can cease to operate in the EU.
