TikTok is facing fresh regulatory scrutiny in the European Union after the European Commission issued preliminary findings accusing the platform of breaching the Digital Services Act (DSA) by failing to adequately protect children online. The Commission alleges that TikTok’s account and privacy settings expose minors to risks including cyberbullying, unwanted contact from strangers, and predatory behavior. If the findings are upheld, ByteDance-owned TikTok could face a fine of up to 6% of its global annual turnover.
The latest action adds to TikTok’s growing list of regulatory challenges in Europe, where the platform has already faced investigations over children’s privacy, data transfers to China, and compliance with the DSA. While TikTok has rejected suggestions that it neglects child safety, it said it would review the Commission’s findings and continue working with regulators.
EU Says TikTok Falls Short on Child Safety
The European Commission’s preliminary findings conclude that TikTok’s design and default settings do not provide a sufficiently high level of privacy and safety for minors, as required under the DSA.
According to the Commission, concerns include:
- Children being able to make their accounts public.
- Public profiles exposing minors to unwanted contact.
- Increased risks of cyberbullying and online predators.
- Private accounts still being discoverable through follower and following lists.
EU officials said protections for minors should be enabled by default rather than relying on users to change privacy settings themselves.
Key Details
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Company | TikTok (ByteDance) |
| Regulator | European Commission |
| Law | Digital Services Act (DSA) |
| Alleged Violation | Inadequate protection of minors |
| Maximum Penalty | Up to 6% of global annual turnover |
| Current Status | Preliminary findings |
What the EU Found
The Commission said TikTok’s current account settings could expose children to several online risks.
Among the concerns raised were:
- Public visibility of minors’ content.
- Greater exposure to unsolicited interactions.
- Potential for grooming and predatory behavior.
- Higher likelihood of cyberbullying.
The findings are preliminary, meaning TikTok now has the opportunity to review the Commission’s evidence and formally respond before a final decision is made.
TikTok Responds
TikTok said it shares the European Union’s objective of protecting younger users and will engage constructively with regulators during the investigation.
The company noted that it has introduced numerous safety measures for teenagers, including:
- Private accounts by default for younger users.
- Restrictions on direct messaging for minors.
- Limits on who can download or duet with teen-created videos.
- Additional parental control features through Family Pairing.
TikTok said it would carefully examine the Commission’s preliminary findings before submitting its response.
Existing Safety Features
| Feature | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Default private accounts for younger teens | Reduces public exposure |
| Messaging restrictions | Limits contact with strangers |
| Family Pairing | Gives parents greater supervision |
| Privacy controls | Lets users manage account visibility |
Part of Broader EU Scrutiny
The child safety case is one of several ongoing investigations involving TikTok under European digital regulations.
Previous actions have included:
- Investigations into children’s privacy.
- Data transfer practices involving China.
- Digital advertising transparency.
- Concerns over addictive platform design.
- Election-related content moderation.
The EU has increasingly used the Digital Services Act to examine how major online platforms manage systemic risks, particularly those affecting children.
Why It Matters
The European Commission’s action demonstrates that enforcement of the Digital Services Act is expanding beyond content moderation to include the default design of online platforms. Regulators are increasingly focusing on whether technology companies proactively protect minors through product design rather than relying on users to configure privacy settings themselves. If the Commission ultimately confirms its preliminary findings, TikTok could face one of the largest penalties available under the DSA, with fines reaching up to 6% of its global annual revenue.
The case also carries broader implications for the social media industry. Other major platforms may face increased pressure to review their default privacy settings, recommendation systems, and child safety features to ensure compliance with the EU’s evolving digital regulations. The outcome is likely to influence how online platforms design services for younger users across Europe and potentially other jurisdictions.
Looking Ahead
TikTok will now have the opportunity to respond to the European Commission’s preliminary findings before regulators decide whether to issue a formal non-compliance decision. If the Commission concludes that the company breached the Digital Services Act and TikTok fails to address the concerns, it could impose financial penalties and require changes to the platform’s child safety features.
Looking ahead, the investigation is expected to shape future enforcement of the Digital Services Act, particularly regarding child safety by design. Technology companies operating in the EU are likely to face heightened scrutiny over how their products protect minors, making privacy defaults and safety features an increasingly important area of regulatory compliance.
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