EU probes TikTok for potential child safety and privacy violations

European Union has launched investigations into TikTok over child protection and privacy concerns on its platform. These investigations are in response to allegations of addictive design, failure to enforce screen time limits, and inadequate age verification systems.

The EU’s Digital Services Act empowers authorities to penalize platforms for breaches, with potential fines of up to 6 percent of global revenue. TikTok is also under scrutiny for transparency issues regarding advertising and data access for researchers. While the investigations do not imply wrongdoing, they could lead to penalties if violations are found.

TikTok has been urged to address concerns related to child safety and harmful content, especially concerning mental and physical health. This move follows previous action by the EU against another social media platform over the spread of illegal and harmful content. TikTok has committed to protecting young users and looks forward to addressing these concerns with the Commission.