EU Commission says TikTok fails to protect minors under the Digital Services Act

The European Commission concluded that TikTok’s default privacy settings allow adults to view accounts belonging to users aged 13-17. If TikTok does not remedy the shortcomings, the Commission may issue a non-compliance decision and impose a fine of up to 6 percent of the company’s annual revenue.

Associated Press

• The Commission estimates TikTok has roughly 170 million users in the EU, the majority of whom are children.

Associated Press

• About 7 percent of children aged 12-15 spend four to five hours per day on the platform.

Associated Press

• Users aged 13-15 can “easily” switch their accounts from private to public, while private accounts of users 16-17 are visible to anyone online.

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The company reiterated its commitment to child safety, stating:

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“Protecting minors online is a goal we share, and we are committed to building on our strong track record of continuous improvement,” — TikTok

Associated Press

TikTok now has a formal opportunity to defend its practices before the Commission. Should the firm’s response be deemed unsatisfactory, the EU may proceed with a non-compliance decision and levy a penalty of up to 6 percent of TikTok’s global revenue, reinforcing the bloc’s broader push to regulate major tech platforms.

Associated Press