EU says TikTok breached online safety rules for kids

• TikTok allegedly allows children to make accounts public and enables easy discovery of private accounts through 'following' and 'followers' lists, even by non-users
• The EU demands TikTok make minors' accounts private by default, with content visible only to users accepted by the children
• TikTok can respond to the preliminary findings before a final decision; the company claims it already has over 50 preset privacy features for teen accounts and keeps under-18 accounts private by default

EU Charges TikTok with Violating Child Safety Rules

The European Commission has charged ByteDance's TikTok with breaching EU online content regulations under the Digital Services Act (DSA), marking the fourth allegation against the platform in two years. The charges center on design features that potentially expose minors to predators and cyberbullying.

Key Violations:

• TikTok allows children to make accounts public, exposing content to potential abusers
• Private accounts remain vulnerable, as children can be located through "following" and "followers" lists, even by non-TikTok users
• The platform fails to meet DSA safety standards requiring built-in protections for minors by default

Financial Implications:

TikTok faces a potential fine of up to 6% of global annual turnover if found guilty following the preliminary findings process.

Company Response:

TikTok stated it will review the findings and work constructively with regulators, emphasizing that teen accounts feature over 50 preset privacy and safety protections. The company notes that accounts for users under 18 are private by default, and younger teens cannot use direct messaging or appear in the "For You" feed.

Regulatory Position:

EU tech chief Henna Virkkunen stressed that high-level protection for minors should be default settings, not opt-in features. The Commission demands TikTok adjust default settings so minors' public account content is only visible to approved users.

Market Context:

This enforcement action represents escalating regulatory pressure on Big Tech platforms in the EU. TikTok previously offered concessions in two other DSA cases to avoid fines, with a third case still pending. The company can now respond to the Commission's findings before a final decision is issued.