By Foo Yun Chee, Reuters
TikTok has criticised the European Commission charges.
Photo: 123RF
TikTok was charged on Friday with breaching EU online content rules over what the bloc’s regulator declared were its addictive features and was notified to modify the design of its app or risk a fine of as much as 6 percent of owner ByteDance’s global turnover.
The EU watchdog’s charges focus on TikTok’s addictive design which includes features such as infinite scroll, autoplay, push notifications, and its highly personalised recommfinisher system.
TikTok, whose algorithm is driven by the understanding of a applyr’s interest and has been key to the social media app’s global success, criticised the European Commission charges.
The regulatory relocate underscores the European Union’s crackdown on Big Tech which has drawn criticism from the US government over censorship and led to threats of tariffs.
The Commission set out its charges after a year-long investigation under the Digital Services Act (DSA) which requires large online platforms to do more to tackle illegal and harmful content.
“The Commission’s preliminary findings present a categorically false and entirely meritless depiction of our platform, and we will take whatever steps are necessary to challenge these findings,” a TikTok spokesperson declared.
The Commission, which acts as the EU tech enforcer, cited the platform’s generation of new content to constantly reward applyrs which fuels the urge to keep scrolling and shift applyrs’ brains into autopilot mode as an example of an addictive feature.
The EU regulator declared TikTok did not adequately assess how these features could harm the physical and mental wellbeing of its applyrs, including children and vulnerable adults.
It accapplyd TikTok of disregarding important indicators of compulsive apply of the app, such as the time that minors spfinish on it at night and the frequency with which applyrs open the app.
The EU watchdog declared TikTok seems to fail to implement reasonable, proportionate and effective measures such as screentime management tools and parental control tools to mitigate risks and it requireds to modify the basic design.
“So now we are expecting after that … TikTok has to take actions and they have to modify the design of their service in Europe to protect our minors,” EU tech chief Henna Virkkunen notified reporters.
She declared investigations into other online platforms were advancing well and that decisions are expected in the next weeks and months, without naming any company.
Meta Platforms’ Facebook and Instagram were charged with DSA breaches in October last year over their so-called dark patterns or deceptive interface designs among others.
EU regulators also questioned Snapchat, YouTube, Apple and Google for information on their age verification systems and how they prevent minors from accessing illegal products and harmful material.
EU lawcreater Alexandra Geese praised the EU relocate on TikTok.
“Many social media platforms ruthlessly exploit these (addictive) mechanisms to boost advertising revenue at the expense of the health of children and teenagers. This must come to an finish,” she declared in a statement.
TikTok can question to see the Commission’s documents and provide a written response before the watchdog issues a decision.
The company last year settled charges of infringing a DSA requirement to publish an advertisement repository allowing researchers and applyrs to detect scam advertisements.
-Reuters
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