Ethan Carter
Recent findings indicate that TikTok could face fines of up to six percent of its annual revenue.
The European Commission (EC) has raised serious concerns regarding TikTok’s ability to safeguard the privacy of accounts belonging to minors, which are set to public by default. This week, the EC presented preliminary findings asserting that TikTok’s policies for accounts held by minors do not comply with the safety standards outlined in the Digital Services Act (DSA).
The commission highlighted that minors can make their accounts public, exposing their content to all TikTok users. it was noted that TikTok’s algorithm promotes content from users aged 16 and 17, potentially leading to situations where minors face “unwanted contact from potential perpetrators,” as well as risks of cyberbullying and predatory behavior.
According to the EC, platforms accessible to minors are required to maintain high standards of privacy, safety, and security. TikTok’s current settings, which allow for excessive exposure of minors’ accounts and content, do not meet these essential standards. TikTok has the opportunity to respond to these findings; however, non-compliance could result in a fine of up to six percent of its gross annual revenue.
To address these issues, the EC has advised TikTok to modify the default privacy settings of minors’ accounts, limiting visibility to friends only. the commission suggests that TikTok cease recommending content from minor accounts in its For You feed to better align with the DSA’s requirements. This is not the first instance of the EC addressing TikTok’s compliance; earlier this year, the platform was criticized for utilizing “addictive design” elements such as infinite scrolling, autoplay, and push notifications. Beyond the European Union, the UK’s regulatory body, Ofcom, also reported concerns about TikTok’s effectiveness in preventing harmful content from reaching children.
Daniel Mercer
