Chinese-owned TikTok faces an investigation by the European Union and a huge fine in the coming weeks as regulators assess whether it has taken enough steps to protect children from unwanted videos. It has been reported that he may be subject to fines.
EU regulators will investigate whether TikTok complies with digital services laws. The Digital Services Act is a broad set of provisions that would force the biggest tech companies, including Instagram’s parent companies Meta and X, to moderate content, protect user privacy and address risks to the public.
The European Commission’s investigation will focus on whether changes made by TikTok are sufficient to comply with the DSA’s content moderation policy, people familiar with the matter said. told Bloomberg.
Under the DSA, technology companies can be fined up to 6% of their annual revenue if they violate the rules. Entry from Europe can be completely banned for multiple violations.
TikTok said it has not yet been notified of the investigation by the European Commission. The company said it is in regular contact with EU regulators.
Talks between the two sides are said to be ongoing, and EU authorities may ultimately decide not to launch a formal investigation.
The Post has contacted the European Union and TikTok for comment.
A formal investigation would create yet another regulatory headache for TikTok. TikTok is facing intense scrutiny from U.S. lawmakers for failing to police problematic content that critics say is fueling a wave of anxiety and depression among America’s youth.
A recent study by British researchers found that TikTok’s algorithm plays negative videos about women, such as “How to Deal with Rude Women,” which can encourage schools to “introduce hateful ideologies and misogynistic tropes.” ” has been found to be helpful in making it “normal.”
TikTok CEO Shou Chu has twice been censured on Capitol Hill over his app’s failure to protect minors, most recently during a hearing last month into online child sexual abuse. received criticism.
TikTok denied the allegations and said it was committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of its users.
Apart from content moderation, Chu faced tough questions from lawmakers over the relationship between its parent company, Beijing ByteDance, and the Chinese government.
As The Post reported, Republicans last November called TikTok a “Letter to America” after influencers began promoting Osama Bin Laden’s post-9/11 “Letter to America” on the app. He accused them of allowing “terrorist propaganda.”
Weeks earlier, Republicans had renewed calls for the app to be banned from the United States after pro-Palestinian videos were said to have become disproportionately popular after Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel.
Last December, X became the first company to be formally investigated by the EU for possible violations of the DSA. The investigation relates to posts related to Hamas attacks on Israel.
with post wire
