EU Accuses TikTok Of Exposing Children To Risks Online
The European Union has accused TikTok of failing to protect minors by allowing public account settings by default, which exposes children to cyberbullying and predatory behavior. The EU is investigating the platform under the Digital Services Act and may impose significant fines if safety standards are not met.
Why it matters
Represents a major regulatory challenge for Big Tech regarding child safety and digital privacy laws.
The European Union on Friday accused TikTok of failing to protect children since their account settings expose them to risks like cyberbullying and predatory behaviour -- putting the company at risk of a large fine.The EU said minors' accounts should only be visible to those they have given permission. Children aged 13 and over can use TikTok."A high level of protection should not be an opt-in; it should be the default," EU tech chief Henna Virkkunen said in a statement.TikTok insisted it was committed to protecting minors online.The EU has intensified its efforts to protect minors with new rules expected later this year that will ban children under the age of 13 from using social media.Brussels began its probe into Chinese-owned TikTok in 2024 under the Digital Services Act (DSA) -- a content law and major weapon in the EU's boosted legal armoury that it has deployed to rein in…
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