TikTok charged with breaching EU tech rules on online safety for kids, EU says

• EU regulators claim TikTok allows children to make accounts public and enables them to be easily found even by non-users through 'following' and 'followers' lists, exposing them to potential abuse
• The Commission demands that TikTok change default settings so minors' content is only visible to users they have accepted, rather than making safety an 'opt-in' feature
• TikTok defends its practices, stating that under-18 accounts are private by default and teen accounts have over 50 preset privacy and safety features, with younger teens unable to use direct messaging

TikTok Charged with Breaching EU Tech Rules on Child Safety

Key Developments:

ByteDance's TikTok has been charged by the European Commission with violating EU Digital Services Act (DSA) regulations regarding child safety protections. The platform faces potential fines of up to 6% of its global annual turnover for design features that allegedly expose minors to predators and cyberbullying.

Regulatory Violations:

EU regulators identified several safety shortcomings:

• Children's accounts can be set to public, allowing anyone to view their content
• Even private accounts remain discoverable through 'following' and 'followers' lists, accessible to non-TikTok users
• Default settings fail to adequately protect minors from harmful contact

The Commission mandates that minors' accounts should default to private settings, with content visible only to users approved by the children themselves.

Company Response:

TikTok stated it will review the findings and work constructively with regulators. The company defended its practices, noting that teen accounts include over 50 preset privacy and safety features, under-18 accounts are private by default, and younger teens cannot use direct messaging or appear in the "For You" feed.

Context:

This marks the fourth DSA allegation against TikTok within two years. The company previously offered concessions in two cases to avoid fines, with a third case still pending. TikTok can now respond to the preliminary findings before a final decision is issued.

Market Implications:

The potential 6% fine on global turnover represents significant financial risk for ByteDance. EU tech chief Henna Virkkunen emphasized that high-level protection for minors must be built-in by default, signaling stricter enforcement of Big Tech accountability in the region.