EU Intensifies Investigation Against TikTok Over Threats to Teenagers

The European Union has ramped up its investigation against TikTok under the Digital Services Act (DSA) due to allegations of failing to meet safety standards for minors. The European Commission found that accounts of users under 18 are easily accessible online, including profiles with photos. This creates risks of cyberbullying and unwanted contacts. According to the DSA, children's accounts must be private to individuals outside their social circle. TikTok claims that its 'teen accounts' have 50 privacy settings and are private by default. A company representative expressed willingness to cooperate with the European Commission. The investigation against TikTok began in February 2024, and failure to comply with the requirements could result in fines of up to 6% of the platform's annual revenue. Additionally, two other EU investigations into TikTok are ongoing, concerning designs that are addictive to users.