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EU says TikTok’s recommendations may breach digital services rules
Developing story first seen 2 hours ago
The European Commission says TikTok’s recommendation system may breach the Digital Services Act because it could repeatedly show users similar content and draw them into harmful “rabbit holes”. The preliminary finding adds to the EU’s scrutiny of the platform and focuses on potential effects on mental health, especially for minors and vulnerable adults.
The Commission says TikTok did not adequately assess or reduce these risks, and that the “not interested” button may not sufficiently change users’ feeds. It wants the company to give more weight to users’ stated preferences, stop using viewing time to recommend content, improve controls and test its algorithm regularly. TikTok disputes the claims; if the EU confirms a breach, ByteDance could face a fine of up to 6 per cent of annual global revenue.
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In short
- EU says TikTok recommendations may breach the DSA.
- Regulators cite risks from repeated exposure to similar content.
- ByteDance could face a fine of up to 6 per cent of global revenue.
How this story developed
- 42 minutes ago TikTok rejected the preliminary findings, saying they misrepresented its platform and safety measures; if the EU confirms a breach and the company fails to address it, ByteDance could face a fine of up to 6 per cent of annual global revenue.
- 52 minutes ago The Commission set out proposed changes, including giving more weight to users’ stated preferences, ending the use of viewing time to shape recommendations, improving controls and testing the algorithm, while questioning whether “not interested” meaningfully changes feeds.
- 2 hours ago The European Commission issued preliminary findings alleging TikTok’s For You system may breach the Digital Services Act by steering users towards harmful content, and said the platform had not adequately assessed or reduced the risks, particularly for minors and vulnerable adults.
Full account
The European Commission has issued preliminary findings that TikTok may be breaching the EU’s Digital Services Act through the way its algorithm recommends videos on the For You feed. It says the system can repeatedly serve users similar material based on what they watch or like, potentially drawing them into “rabbit holes” of content about issues such as sadness, isolation, weight loss or body image. The Commission warns that sustained exposure could harm wellbeing, particularly for minors and other vulnerable users.
According to the Commission, TikTok did not adequately assess how its recommendations might create these risks or put effective safeguards in place. It says the platform’s existing “not interested” control may not sufficiently alter a user’s feed. The proposed changes include giving more weight to users’ stated preferences, ceasing to use viewing time as a recommendation signal, making controls easier to find and use, and regularly testing the algorithm.
TikTok disputes the preliminary assessment. In a statement reported by both outlets, it called the findings fundamentally inaccurate and said they misrepresent its platform and its approach to user safety. The company also said it has a strong record of protecting users while giving them direct control over their content experience. TikTok will be able to respond before the Commission reaches a final decision. If the EU confirms a breach, a penalty could reach 6% of the company’s annual global revenue.
The findings are part of the Commission’s wider investigation into TikTok under the Digital Services Act. Both reports place the case among a series of EU actions concerning the platform, including earlier preliminary findings on features alleged to encourage compulsive use and on the protection of minors’ privacy. The reports frame the latest action somewhat differently: one stresses the potential mental-health effects and broader scrutiny of social media, while the other foregrounds the Commission’s demand for changes to the feed and quotes its technology chief, Henna Virkkunen.
Where outlets differ
From the full account, which is AI-written from the sources:
The first report describes the investigation as having begun in early 2024; the Associated Press says it began more than two years ago, a difference in timing.
The first report adds wider context about scrutiny of social media companies and a legal challenge to California’s law on access to potentially addictive features. The Associated Press instead highlights Virkkunen’s comments and gives examples including weight-loss videos.
The first report says the Commission had previously said TikTok breached the DSA over addictive design and alleges it failed to protect minors’ account privacy. The Associated Press characterises these as two other sets of preliminary findings, including an accusation about children’s privacy rights.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The Commission’s case is that a recommendation system can repeatedly steer people towards increasingly harmful material, with particular risks for minors and vulnerable adults. Requiring TikTok to assess those risks, test its system and give users more control could help protect users while making the platform more accountable for how its design shapes what they see.
The case against
TikTok’s case is that the Commission’s preliminary findings misrepresent its platform and the safety measures already in place. Changing recommendations as proposed could limit how well the service reflects users’ interests, and any penalties should depend on a fair assessment of the evidence and whether TikTok has actually breached the rules.
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Originally published by Engadget as “The EU accuses TikTok’s ‘rabbit hole’ algorithm of breaching its content rules”.