The European Union started a formal probe into whether TikTok complies with the Digital Services Act (DSA) and if it is effective at safeguarding children, being transparent in advertising, making relevant data accessible for research and the management of content that is addictive and potentially harmful.
This examination, however, is part of the EU’s grand effort in regulating online platforms, with the DSA being a crucial measure in the regulation strategy of the Union in managing online content and services. However, the DSA came into being, and the latter has set a number of strict requirements against large online platforms like TikTok, mainly on the issues of algorithmic transparency and the systemic management.
Enforcement of the DSA will incur penalties reaching up to 6% of annual revenue for global corporations. The Commission was collecting information about TikTok commodity within the investigation period and focusing on areas such as child safety and misinformation. Prior, TikTok changed its procedures with respect to the multiple queries asked by the regional bodies which inquired about the security & privacy of children.
Along with the probe, the Commission is trying its best to increase its requests for information from TikTok that can include interviews and inspections as well. The durability of the investigation will rely on several factors, which include the complexity of the case and level of cooperation TikTok provides to the Commission.
The TikTok company stated on multiple occasions that the safety of its young users and its close collaboration with the Commission is its priority, as it has already implemented measures for this purpose. The verification will review TikTok’s performance in DSA, including its measures for protecting the minors and ensuring the transparency of its advertising. The main objective of the EU, is to make sure that TikTok applies the necessary measures to protect minors’ privacy, safety and security, as well as to provide direct access to advertising info in order to ensure transparency.
The EU’s actions reflect its prioritization of online user safety and the proper regulation of platforms that have significant reach among children and teenagers. This investigation into TikTok follows a similar probe into X (formerly Twitter), underscoring the EU’s commitment to enforcing the DSA and protecting online users.
