If the finding is upheld, TikTok could be fined up to 6 per cent of its worldwide turnover. The company now has a chance to examine the investigation file and mount a defence. It could also agree to change its recommender system to avoid a fine.
The platform was found to have failed to stop users being served repetitive material on themes such as body image or isolation, which can lead to anxiety and sadness or worsen existing eating disorders and other mental health problems.
A Commission official told reporters the EU was addressing a business model. One focused mainly on engagement “can potentially create a risk”, especially for minors and vulnerable adults.
EU officials want TikTok to change the design of its For You feed so users have greater control over what they see.
Issuing a preliminary finding on Friday, the EU regulator said TikTok’s algorithm “can be harmful” and was leading young and vulnerable users “down rabbit holes they cannot easily escape from”. The investigation focused on legal content. A single video might not be problematic, officials said, but the cumulative effect of watching scores of clips on one theme could damage mental health.
For example, officials said that if a user tapped “not interested” on a video about eating patterns, the algorithm could still offer similar content on diet and body image. A TikTok spokesperson said: “The commission has made a series of statements that are fundamentally inaccurate and distort our platform’s architecture and our commitment to user safety.”.
“TikTok needs to step up its efforts to protect users’ wellbeing, including those of minors,” the Commission said.