The European Commission announced on Monday that it will be opening a formal investigation into the popular social media app Tiktok. The main focus of this investigation will be to determine whether Tiktok has been violating certain aspects of the protection of minors and addictive design. This news comes amidst growing concerns about the safety and security of users on the platform.
The foundations of this investigation lie in the requirements of the European Digital Services Act DSA, a legislation which was put into effect last year. The DSA aims to provide internet users with enhanced rights and protection when using digital platforms. Given its 135.9 million monthly users in the EU, Tiktok is considered a ‘very large online platform’ under this legislation, thus subject to the strictest regulations.
The Commission suspects that Tiktok might not be adhering to regulations related to the protection of minors. In addition to this, there could be other potential issues relating to transparency in advertising, access to company data for researchers, and risk management concerning addictive design and harmful content.
‘Rabbit hole’-effect
One of the main concerns is the potential ‘rabbit hole’ effect that can occur on Tiktok. This term refers to a phenomenon where users, due to the specific algorithms used by the platform, can end up viewing increasingly extreme content based on their initial video choice. The risk management strategies that Tiktok currently employs might not be sufficient to prevent this, leading to potential risks for the mental and physical well-being of its users, especially those who are underage, and the possibility of radicalization.
In response to these concerns, Tiktok had previously submitted a detailed risk analysis to the Commission. However, it was deemed unconvincing. As a result, a formal investigation has now been initiated. It is currently unclear as to how long this investigation will take. Should Tiktok be found guilty of any violations, it could face a penalty of up to 6 percent of the company’s annual revenue.
