EU Warns TikTok Over Child Protection Failures

The European Commission has formally notified TikTok that it may be in breach of the Digital Services Act (DSA) concerning the protection of minors. This notification follows an investigation launched in February 2024 into TikTok's compliance with the DSA, particularly regarding the risks posed to the physical and mental well-being of children. The Commission has expressed concerns that TikTok's systems and measures may not be sufficient to identify and mitigate risks such as the exposure of minors to harmful content or the collection of their personal data.

Specifically, the investigation focused on TikTok's age verification processes and the default privacy settings applied to accounts belonging to users under 18. The Commission is examining whether these measures adequately prevent minors from accessing inappropriate content and protect their data from being used for targeted advertising. The DSA requires large online platforms to implement robust measures to protect users, especially vulnerable groups like children, from illegal content and harmful activities.

TikTok now has the opportunity to respond to the Commission's concerns and present its case. The company must provide a detailed explanation of its compliance efforts and propose remedies within a specified timeframe. If TikTok fails to satisfy the Commission, the company could face significant penalties, including fines of up to 6% of its annual global turnover. The Commission has also initiated a separate proceeding against TikTok concerning the processing of personal data and the provision of services to minors, which is being handled by the Irish Data Protection Commission.