https://www.reuters.com/technology/eu-opens-formal-proceedings-against-tiktok-under-digital-services-act-2024-02-19/ Skip to main content Exclusive news, data and analytics for financial market professionals Learn more aboutRefinitiv Reuters home * World Browse World + Africa + Americas + Asia Pacific + China + Europe + India + Israel and Hamas at War + Japan + Middle East + United Kingdom + United States + US Elections + Ukraine and Russia at War + Reuters Next * Business Browse Business + Aerospace & Defense + Autos & Transportation + Davos + Energy + Environment + Finance + Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals + Media & Telecom + Retail & Consumer + Future of Health + Future of Money + Take Five + World at Work * Markets Browse Markets + Asian Markets + Carbon Markets + Commodities + Currencies + Deals + Emerging Markets + ETFs + European Markets + Funds + Global Market Data + Rates & Bonds + Stocks + U.S. Markets + Wealth + Macro Matters * Sustainability Browse Sustainability + Boards, Policy & Regulation + Climate & Energy + Land Use & Biodiversity + Society & Equity + Sustainable Finance & Reporting + The Switch + Reuters Impact * Legal Browse Legal + Government + Legal Industry + Litigation + Transactional + US Supreme Court * Breakingviews Browse Breakingviews + Breakingviews Predictions * Technology Browse Technology + Cybersecurity + Space + Disrupted + Reuters Momentum * Investigations * More Sports + Athletics + Baseball + Basketball + Cricket + Cycling + Formula 1 + Golf + NFL + NHL + Soccer + Tennis ScienceLifestyleGraphics PicturesPodcastsFact CheckVideoSponsored Content + Reuters Plus + Coupons My View Register * Technology EU opens formal investigation into TikTok over possible online content breaches By Foo Yun Chee February 19, 202412:40 PM UTCUpdated ago * * * * * * * * Illustration shows EU flag and TikTok logo EU flag and TikTok logo are seen in this illustration taken, June 2, 2023. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab BRUSSELS, Feb 19 (Reuters) - The European Union will investigate whether ByteDance's TikTok breached online content rules aimed at protecting children and ensuring transparent advertising, an official said on Monday, putting the social media platform at risk of a hefty fine. EU industry chief Thierry Breton said he took the decision after analysing the short video app's risk assessment report and its replies to requests for information, confirming a Reuters story, opens new tab. "Today we open an investigation into TikTok over suspected breach of transparency & obligations to protect minors: addictive design & screen time limits, rabbit hole effect, age verification, default privacy settings," Breton said on X. The European Union's Digital Services Act (DSA), which applies to all online platforms since Feb. 17, requires in particular very large online platforms and search engines to do more to tackle illegal online content and risks to public security. TikTok's owner, China-based ByteDance, could face fines of up to 6% of its global turnover if TikTok is found guilty of breaching DSA rules. TikTok said it would continue to work with experts and the industry to keep young people on its platform safe and that it looked forward to explaining this work in detail to the European Commission. "TikTok has pioneered features and settings to protect teens and keep under 13s off the platform, issues the whole industry is grappling with," a TikTok spokesperson said. The European Commission said the investigation will focus on the design of TikTok's system, including algorithmic systems which may stimulate behavioural addictions and/or create so-called 'rabbit hole effects'. It will also probe whether TikTok has put in place appropriate and proportionate measures to ensure a high level of privacy, safety and security for minors. As well as the issue of protecting minors, the Commission is looking at whether TikTok provides a reliable database on advertisements on its platform so that researchers can scrutinise potential online risks. This marks the second DSA investigation after Elon Musk's social media platform X found itself in the EU's crosshairs in December last year. Reporting by Foo Yun Chee; Editing by Sudip Kar-Gupta and Susan Fenton Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab * * * * * Purchase Licensing Rights [667527b5-7] Foo Yun Chee Thomson Reuters An agenda-setting and market-moving journalist, Foo Yun Chee is a 20-year veteran at Reuters. Her stories on high profile mergers have pushed up the European telecoms index, lifted companies' shares and helped investors decide on their move. Her knowledge and experience of European antitrust laws and developments helped her broke stories on Microsoft, Google, Amazon, numerous market-moving mergers and antitrust investigations. She has previously reported on Greek politics and companies, when Greece's entry into the eurozone meant it punched above its weight on the international stage, as well as Dutch corporate giants and the quirks of Dutch society and culture that never fail to charm readers. * Read Next * A Microsoft logo is seen in Issy-les-Moulineaux near Paris TechnologycategoryMicrosoft to expand its AI infrastructure in Spain with $2.1 billion investment10:31 PM UTC * Updated ago * A signage at U.S. chipmaker GlobalFoundries' new fabrication plant in Singapore TechnologycategoryUS awards $1.5 bln to GlobalFoundries for semiconductor production9:56 PM UTC * Updated ago * Signage for the Nintendo Switch is seen in Manhattan, New York TechnologycategoryNintendo shares slide on reports of delayed Switch successor release4:43 AM UTC * Semicon China in Shanghai TechnologycategoryDutch government says China seeks military advantage from ASML tools7:26 PM UTC LSEG Workspace Technology * Illustration shows representations of cryptocurrency Bitcoin Honduras watchdog bans institutions from trading crypto Future of Moneycategory * February 16, 2024 Honduras' CNBS regulator has banned the Central American country's financial system from trading in cryptocurrency and similar virtual assets, it said in a resolution, citing risks of fraud and money laundering. * SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son speaks at the SoftBank World 2023 corporate conference in Tokyo TechnologycategorySoftBank's Son is seeking about $100 bln for AI chip venture, Bloomberg reportsFebruary 16, 2024 * People walk in a street in Kabul Technologycategory'broke.af' goes offline as Afghan web domains suspended amid payment disputeFebruary 16, 2024 * Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI TechnologycategoryOpenAI's Altman seeks US government nod for AI chips venture, Bloomberg reportsFebruary 16, 2024 * United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres speaks in Kampala, Uganda TechnologycategoryUN chief calls on tech firms to stop profiting from 'toxic content'February 16, 2024 Site Index Browse * World * Business * Markets * Sustainability * Legal * Breakingviews * Technology * Investigations, opens new tab * Sports * Science * Lifestyle About Reuters * About Reuters, opens new tab * Careers, opens new tab * Reuters News Agency, opens new tab * Brand Attribution Guidelines, opens new tab * Reuters Leadership, opens new tab * Reuters Fact Check, opens new tab * Reuters Diversity Report, opens new tab Stay Informed * Download the App (iOS), opens new tab * Download the App (Android), opens new tab * Newsletters, opens new tab Information you can trust Reuters, the news and media division of Thomson Reuters, is the world's largest multimedia news provider, reaching billions of people worldwide every day. Reuters provides business, financial, national and international news to professionals via desktop terminals, the world's media organizations, industry events and directly to consumers. Follow Us * * * * * Thomson Reuters Products * Westlaw, opens new tab Build the strongest argument relying on authoritative content, attorney-editor expertise, and industry defining technology. * Onesource, opens new tab The most comprehensive solution to manage all your complex and ever-expanding tax and compliance needs. * Checkpoint, opens new tab The industry leader for online information for tax, accounting and finance professionals. LSEG Products * Workspace, opens new tab Access unmatched financial data, news and content in a highly-customised workflow experience on desktop, web and mobile. * Data Catalogue, opens new tab Browse an unrivalled portfolio of real-time and historical market data and insights from worldwide sources and experts. * World-Check, opens new tab Screen for heightened risk individual and entities globally to help uncover hidden risks in business relationships and human networks. * Advertise With Us, opens new tab * Advertising Guidelines, opens new tab * Coupons, opens new tab * Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab * Cookies, opens new tab * Terms of Use, opens new tab * Privacy, opens new tab * Digital Accessibility, opens new tab * Corrections, opens new tab * Site Feedback, opens new tab All quotes delayed a minimum of 15 minutes. See here for a complete list of exchanges and delays. (c) 2024 Reuters. All rights reserved