The European Commission has raised concerns regarding TikTok’s measures for protecting minors on its platform. According to the Commission, the current account settings do not comply with the child safety standards mandated by the Digital Services Act (DSA). These findings, while preliminary, could lead to significant repercussions for TikTok, potentially resulting in a fine of up to 6% of its global annual revenue.
Why the EU thinks TikTok isn’t doing enough
One of the primary issues identified by the Commission is that TikTok permits minors to set their accounts to public. This allows their content to be visible to anyone, including users who do not have a TikTok account. Furthermore, the Commission has pointed out that content from older teenagers, specifically those aged 16 and 17, can still be recommended to other users via the For You feed. This raises concerns about increased risks related to unwanted contact, cyberbullying, and potential exploitation.
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The Commission emphasizes that stronger privacy protections for children should be implemented by default rather than relying on users to manually adjust their settings. It has proposed that content from minors’ public accounts be visible only to approved TikTok followers, thereby minimizing exposure to a wider audience. Moreover, the Commission advocates that content created by minors should not be suggested in the For You feed to other users.
Henna Virkkunen, the EU Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, has articulated that protecting minors online is not an optional feature. She insists that platforms must inherently integrate child safety into their services rather than providing it as a customizable option.
What TikTok said
In response to the Commission’s findings, TikTok has expressed disagreement, asserting that the platform shares the objective of protecting young users. The company emphasizes that it already offers over 50 privacy and safety features specifically designed for teens. As reported by Reuters, TikTok indicates that accounts belonging to users under 18 are private by default, younger teens are not permitted to use direct messaging, and their content is not showcased in the For You feed.
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Currently, the Commission’s announcement consists of preliminary findings, allowing TikTok to formally respond before the EU determines whether the company has indeed violated the DSA. Should regulators remain unconvinced by TikTok’s arguments, they have the authority to issue a non-compliance decision along with financial penalties. This investigation is part of a broader initiative by European regulators to enhance oversight on how substantial social media platforms safeguard younger users online.
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