Days after New York City filed a lawsuit against ByteDance-possessed Tick tock over alleged harm to minors’ mental health, the European Union has launched a formal investigation into the social media platform for potential violations of online content regulations.
What happened: the head of the body industry, Thierry Bretonannounced Monday that the EU will investigate TikTok for possible violations of online content rules designed to protect minors and ensure transparent advertising, Reuters reported.
“Today we open an investigation into TikTok for suspected violations of transparency and child protection obligations: addictive design and screen time limits, rabbit hole effect, age verification, privacy defaults,” Breton said , according to the report.
The investigation will focus on TikTok’s risk assessment report, its responses to requests for information and its compliance with Digital Services Actcame into effect for all online platforms on February 17th.
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The DSA requires large online platforms and search engines to take stronger measures against illegal online content and risks to public safety.
If TikTok is found guilty of violating DSA rules, ByteDance could face fines of up to 6% of its global revenue. The investigation will specifically examine the design of the TikTok system, including algorithmic systems that may encourage behavioral addictions and “rabbit hole effects.”
“TikTok has pioneered features and settings to protect teens and keep children under 13 off the platform, issues the entire industry is grappling with,” a TikTok spokesperson said.
Because matter: The EU investigation comes in the wake of legal action taken by New York City against major social media platforms, including TikTok, for allegedly causing mental health problems among young users.
The lawsuit, filed in the Los Angeles County branch of the California Superior Court, accused the companies of deliberately designing and marketing their platforms to attract and addict young users, with minimal parental supervision.
At the beginning of February, President Joe BidenThe campaign’s decision to join TikTok, which drew bipartisan criticism as lawmakers raised concerns about national security and data privacy.
Previously, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (DR.I.) criticized the ability of large technology platforms to effectively police themselves during the period Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on online child safety.
“Collectively, your platforms really suck at policing themselves,” he said at the time.
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