EU Investigates TikTok Over Children's Privacy Concerns
The European Commission has found that TikTok failed to adequately protect minors' privacy by allowing adults to view their accounts, potentially exposing them to risks like cyberbullying and unwanted contact.
The European Commission announced Friday that it has determined TikTok violated European Union digital regulations by not sufficiently safeguarding the privacy rights of children on its platform. The commission's investigation found that TikTok allowed adults to view the accounts of minors, a practice that could expose children to cyberbullying, unwanted contact, and predatory behavior.
This action is part of a broader regulatory push by Brussels against major technology companies, following similar actions targeting Meta and Apple. TikTok now has the opportunity to present its defense and respond to the commission's findings. If the company's response is deemed unsatisfactory, the European Commission could issue a non-compliance decision, which may include fines amounting to up to 6% of TikTok's total annual revenue.
Earlier in February, the European Union had already identified a breach of its digital rulebook by TikTok concerning an "addictive design." Features such as autoplay and infinite scrolling were cited as potentially harmful to the physical and mental health of users, particularly minors.