EU Says TikTok Allowed Kids To Be Vulnerable To Predators. Now It Might Face Massive Fines

The European Union has alleged that ByteDance and its social media platform TikTok are breaking online content rules and making children potentially vulnerable to online predators.

The bloc is alleging that TikTok violated its content rules by allowing design features that could make children vulnerable to predators or cyberbullying.

Reuters noted that it is the fourth such allegation filed against TikTok by the EU. The preliminary finding was filed under the Digital Services Act and could result in a significant fine.

“Children’s content must never be visible to strangers,” commission spokersperson Thomas Regnier told the Associated Press.

The outlet reported that Regnier said that TikTok must take steps to protect and shield children from potential harm. He pointed out that children 13 to 15 can “easily” change accounts from private to public. Also, Regnier said, the private accounts of 16- to 17-year-olds can be seen by anyone.

“We do not accept this,” the official told the AP. “Putting default settings for minors is not a beauty contest under the DSA. It must be effective.”

TikTok told Reuters it would review the EU complaint and work to address any concerns.

“Teen accounts on TikTok have more than 50 preset privacy and safety features, informed by experts, from the moment they set up an account,” the company told the outlet. “Under 18 accounts are private by default and we are one of the only platforms where younger teens cannot use direct messaging or have their content eligible to appear in the For You feed.”

The AP reported that TikTok does have the opportunity to defend itself and address the allegations. But, the EU can, if it finds the response lacking, issue a non-compliance decision which carries a maximum potential fine of up to 6 percent of the company’s annual revenue.

The DSA created rules for online services for the 27-member EU. The rules apply to marketplaces, social media networks, app stores, and online travel and accommodation platforms.

“The main goal of the DSA is to create a digital space that respects citizens and consumers’ fundamental rights,” the EU stated. “By establishing a clear set of rules across the EU, the DSA also enables smaller platforms, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and start-ups to scale up in Europe, fostering innovation, growth and competitiveness.”

Earlier this month, the EU fined AliExpress $625 million for failing to “assess and mitigate risks relating to the sale of illegal, unsafe or counterfeit products on its e-commerce platform.”

Google was hit with two fines this month that totaled $1 billion. The EU found that the company was in non-compliance for “self-preferencing its own services on Google Search, and for putting in place restrictions on businesses to direct consumers to alternative, often cheaper, purchase channels on Google Play (steering).”

X, however, satisfactorily navigated the EU process and avoided a fine this month. The EU accepted “X’s action plan to comply with transparency obligations and researchers’ access to data, under the Digital Services Act.”