The European Union is examining TikTok for potential violations of its stringent new digital regulations.

The European Union is probing TikTok for violating its stringent new digital guidelines aimed at safeguarding internet users and regulating social media.

The EU's executive branch, the European Commission, initiated formal proceedings to evaluate whether TikTok violated the Digital Services Act, which was enacted in 2020.

The DSA is a comprehensive set of rules aimed at safeguarding internet users, which includes provisions to simplify the process of reporting harmful or illegal content, such as hate speech, and to provide users with options to algorithmic recommendations, as well as to prohibit ads aimed at children.

The commission is examining whether TikTok's design is contributing to "systemic risks," such as "algorithmic systems" that may cause "behavioral addictions." The commission believes that measures like age verification tools to prevent minors from accessing "inappropriate content" may not be "reasonable, proportionate, and effective."

The DSA's top priority is to safeguard minors, and TikTok, as a platform with a large user base of children and teenagers, must comply with the DSA's regulations. Thierry Breton, the EU's internal market commissioner, stated in a press release that they are launching a formal infringement proceeding to ensure that appropriate measures are taken to protect the physical and emotional well-being of young Europeans.

TikTok has introduced features and settings to safeguard teenagers and keep children under 13 off the platform, an issue that the entire industry is facing. The company stated that it will continue to collaborate with experts and the industry to ensure the safety of young people on TikTok. Additionally, TikTok looks forward to providing a detailed explanation of its work in this area to the Commission.

TikTok is being probed by the commission regarding its privacy safeguards for minors, its ad transparency, and whether it allows researchers to access data.

The EU has identified over 20 major online and social media platforms, including TikTok, as requiring the highest level of scrutiny under the DSA and significant fines if they do not comply. Additionally, the bloc is currently investigating Elon Musk's X, formerly known as Twitter, for violations, including the failure to control the spread of illegal content.