The European Commission has charged TikTok with breaching the Digital Services Act (DSA) due to design features that may expose children to risks such as cyberbullying and contact with predators. The Commission highlighted that TikTok allows minors to have public accounts, which can be viewed by anyone, and even private accounts can be discovered through user lists.
TikTok has stated it will review the findings and has emphasized its existing safety measures, including over 50 privacy features for teen accounts. The potential fine could reach up to 6% of TikTok's global annual turnover, reflecting the serious implications of these findings.
EU tech chief Henna Virkkunen reiterated that protections for minors should be built into the design of services by default, not as an optional feature. This development is significant as it illustrates the ongoing regulatory challenges faced by social media platforms and the heightened focus on child safety in the digital space