The European Commission has formally charged TikTok with violating the European Union’s online content regulations, escalating pressure on the social media giant to alter how its platform operates or face significant financial penalties. The charges stem from a year-long investigation conducted under the Digital Services Act (DSA), which governs how large technology platforms manage risks related to harmful content and user safety.
According to EU regulators, the case centers on design features within TikTok that they argue are engineered to keep users engaged for prolonged periods. These include the platform’s infinite scrolling feed, autoplay functionality, push notifications, and the recommendation algorithm that continuously delivers new content based on user behavior. Officials say these elements can encourage compulsive usage patterns, particularly among younger audiences.
The Commission stated that TikTok did not sufficiently evaluate how these features might impact the physical and mental wellbeing of users. Regulators pointed specifically to concerns about minors spending excessive time on the app, including late at night, and repeatedly opening the platform throughout the day. EU authorities contend that the company failed to implement adequate safeguards, such as stronger screen-time management tools and parental controls, to mitigate these risks.
If the Commission ultimately determines that TikTok is in violation of the Digital Services Act, the company could face fines of up to six percent of its parent company ByteDance’s global annual revenue. Regulators are also demanding changes to the platform’s design, which may include limiting or removing certain engagement-driving features and strengthening protections for younger users.
TikTok has rejected the accusations, calling the Commission’s preliminary findings inaccurate and unjustified. In a statement, the company indicated it intends to challenge the claims and defend the structure of its platform. Officials in Brussels, however, say the next phase of the enforcement process will focus on whether TikTok makes meaningful adjustments to comply with EU rules.
European technology leadership signaled that similar investigations into other major platforms are ongoing and that additional enforcement actions could be announced in the coming months. The current case represents one of the most aggressive regulatory moves yet under the Digital Services Act, underscoring Europe’s increasing scrutiny of how digital platforms design products that influence user behavior.
