TikTok Charged by EU Over Teen Account Safety Standards Under DSA

ByteDance’s video-sharing platform TikTok has been formally charged by European Union regulators for allegedly breaching the bloc’s online content rules concerning child safety, according to reports. The European Commission announced its preliminary findings on a Friday, stating that the platform’s default account settings and design features for minors fail to meet the rigorous safety standards required under the Digital Services Act (DSA).

EU Regulators Charge TikTok Over Teen Account Safety Standards

Regulators warned that these design features could expose children to predators or cyberbullying, putting the social media company at risk of substantial financial penalties. The latest action marks the fourth allegation brought against TikTok by the European Commission over a two-year period.

European Commission Details Safety Flaws and Public Account Settings

According to the European Commission, TikTok accounts for minors fall short of established safety guardrails. Regulators noted that the platform currently permits children to easily alter their accounts from private to public, which allows any user to view their content and potentially exposes them to unwanted contact from abusers or cyberbullying.

TikTok accounts fall short of Digital Services Act safety standards, says the European Commission, which serves as the EU — Photo: timeslive.co.za

Furthermore, investigators determined that even private accounts are not fully secure for children. Profile details and content can allegedly be located through the “following” and “followers” lists of other users, even by individuals who do not possess a TikTok account. The European Commission also highlighted that TikTok’s recommender algorithms often surface content aimed at teens, potentially exposing minors via the platform’s For You feed.

EU tech chief Henna Virkkunen emphasized the regulatory stance on platform design, stating, The Digital Services Act requires platforms to build protections for minors into the design of their services, and holds them to account when they fail to do so. A high level of protection should not be an opt-in; it should be the default. Regulators assert that TikTok should adjust default settings so that content from minors is visible exclusively to approved contacts.

TikTok Response and Potential Financial Penalties

In response to the charges, TikTok stated that it would review the EU findings and work constructively with the regulator. The company defended its existing infrastructure, noting that teen accounts feature more than 50 preset privacy and safety settings informed by experts from the moment of setup.

EU Says TikTok Accounts for Minors Might Breach Bloc’s Digital Rulebook — Photo: WSJ

Under 18 accounts are private by default and we are one of the only platforms where younger teens cannot use direct messaging or have their content eligible to appear in the For You feed, the company said in a statement published by TimesLIVE.

Following the issuance of these preliminary findings, TikTok now has the opportunity to examine the Commission’s documents and respond before the watchdog issues a final decision. If found in violation, the company faces potential fines of up to 6% of its global annual turnover, as reported by HuffPost. Historical context shows that the company offered concessions to avoid fines in two prior cases, while a third case remains ongoing.