EU opens formal investigation into TikTok over possible online content breaches

BRUSSELS: The European Union will investigate whether ByteDance’s TikTok breached online content rules aimed at protecting children and ensuring transparent advertising, an official said on Monday, putting the social media platform at risk of a hefty fine.

EU industry chief Thierry Breton said he took the decision after analysing the short video app’s risk assessment report and its replies to requests for information, confirming a Reuters story.“Today we open an investigation into TikTok over suspected breach of transparency & obligations to protect minors: addictive design & screen time limits, rabbit hole effect, age verification, default privacy settings,” Breton said on X.

The European Union’s Digital Services Act (DSA), which applies to all online platforms since Feb 17, requires in particular very large online platforms and search engines to do more to tackle illegal online content and risks to public security.TikTok’s owner, China-based ByteDance, could face fines of up to 6 percent of its global turnover if TikTok is found guilty of breaching DSA rules.