The latest
TikTok may have breached the EU’s Digital Services Act after the European Commission found that its current privacy settings might not provide the required level of protection for minors. Users under 18 can switch their accounts from private to public, although accounts are private by default.
A public account allows any user to view a minor’s content. TikTok’s For You feed can also recommend videos posted by users aged 16 and 17 to a wider audience. The commission said these features could give strangers a window into children’s lives and expose minors to cyberbullying and unwanted contact.
TikTok said teen accounts include more than 50 privacy and safety features and that it would review the preliminary findings. Brussels wants stronger default settings and restrictions on recommending minors’ content to other users.
Details
- Public accounts: Minors can change their account settings from private to public.
- Content distribution: Videos posted by users aged 16 and 17 can appear in the For You feed.
- Account discovery: Private accounts may still be visible through other users’ follower lists.
- Broader investigation: The commission has been examining TikTok’s algorithmic design and user protections since 2024.
- Addictive design: Brussels previously said the platform might breach the law through features that encourage excessive use.
- Potential penalty: The maximum fine is 6% of TikTok’s global annual revenue.
What to watch
TikTok will have an opportunity to respond before the commission reaches a final decision. The platform may be required to strengthen default privacy settings, restrict strangers’ access to minors’ content and change how its algorithm recommends their videos.
