EU Charges TikTok with DSA Breach on Addictive Features

The European Commission on Friday issued preliminary findings charging TikTok with breaching the European Union's Digital Services Act through its addictive design features, warning that the platform may need to overhaul its service in Europe or face fines of up to 6 percent of parent company ByteDance's global annual turnover.

The charges stem from a yearlong investigation launched in February 2024 into the Chinese-owned video-sharing app's compliance with the DSA, a law that mandates large online platforms to mitigate systemic risks, including harmful content and effects on user wellbeing. Commission officials focused on features such as infinite scroll, autoplay, push notifications, and the app's highly personalized recommendation algorithm, which they said continuously generate rewarding content that encourages prolonged use and shifts users into an "autopilot" mode.

According to the findings, TikTok failed to adequately assess the risks these elements pose to users' physical and mental health, particularly children and vulnerable adults. The regulator highlighted overlooked indicators of compulsive behavior, including minors' late-night usage and frequent app openings. It...