The European Commission has issued a preliminary finding that TikTok violated the Digital Services Act by failing to adequately protect minors on its platform.
The Commission said on July 24 that the app's default settings allow underage users to operate public accounts, exposing their content to any viewer, including unregistered users. Content from users aged 16 and 17 can also be recommended through the For You feed. Officials warned that public profiles for children could lead to unwanted contact, cyberbullying, or exploitative behaviour. The Commission has demanded that TikTok restrict minors' content to approved followers and prevent its distribution outside the app.
The findings stem from a formal investigation launched in February 2024. If confirmed, TikTok faces a fine of up to 6% of its global annual revenue — potentially running into billions of dollars based on parent company ByteDance's estimated $186 billion turnover last year.