The EU puts TikTok in the crosshairs: new accusations on the protection of minors

The Commission also highlights that even when an account is set to private, it can still be easily discovered via other users’ follower lists, while the profile photo remains visible to anyone. Elements which, according to Brussels, do not guarantee a sufficient level of privacy for younger people.

If TikTok fails to comply with European requirements, it could be declared non-compliant with the Digital Services Act. In this case, the platform would risk a fine of up to 6% of its global annual turnover, one of the heaviest penalties provided for by European legislation on digital services.

“The protection of minors must be guaranteed from the first moment they access the Internet,” said Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice President of the European Commission responsible for technological sovereignty. “The Digital Services Act requires platforms to integrate child protection into the design of their services. A high level of protection should not be optional, but the default.”

The European investigation comes just days after the opening of a similar procedure in the United Kingdom. The British communications authority, Ofcom, has also launched an investigation into the measures adopted by TikTok for the safety of minors, with the first updates expected in October.

At the same time, the European Commission confirmed that another investigation into the platform is continuing, dedicated to the so-called “rabbit hole effect”, i.e. the risk that recommendation algorithms push users, particularly younger ones, towards a compulsive use of content and an ever-increasing stay on the app. An issue that continues to represent one of the main concerns of the European authorities towards TikTok.