EU Accuses TikTok of Breaching Digital Rules Over For You Feed

The European Union has accused TikTok of breaching the bloc's digital rules because its algorithm recommends users a nonstop stream of personalized videos, including content that regulators say could hurt mental health and body image.

The European Commission, the bloc's executive arm, said TikTok must change the design of its "For You" feed so users have more control over opting out of seeing certain content. The findings are preliminary, and TikTok will have a chance to respond before the Commission issues a final decision.

Regulator's Concerns

The Commission said TikTok failed to assess how its recommendation systems could lead people into "rabbit holes" that threaten their wellbeing. The system feeds users similar video clips based on what they have previously viewed or liked, even if the content is "triggering," such as clips about weight loss and mental health struggles.

"Every time a user scrolls or likes a video on TikTok, the algorithm serves more of the same, leading users down rabbit holes they cannot easily escape from," European Commission Executive Vice-President Henna Virkkunen, who oversees tech sovereignty, said in a statement.

"Today’s preliminary findings show again that TikTok needs to step up its efforts to protect users’ wellbeing, including those of minors."

TikTok's Response

TikTok said the European Commission's findings are "fundamentally inaccurate and distort our platform’s architecture and our commitment to user safety."

"We have a strong record of protecting our community while giving users direct and intuitive control over their content experience," the company said in a statement.

TikTok has added measures such as a "not interested" button to reduce the "rabbit hole effect," but the Commission said they are ineffective in reducing how often harmful content is recommended.

Required Changes and Possible Penalty

European regulators want TikTok to make changes to its "For You" feed, including:

• giving more weight to "explicit preferences" of people using the platform
• stopping reliance on viewing time as a metric for recommending content
• making user controls more accessible

The company could face a fine of up to 6% of TikTok's total annual revenue if the findings are confirmed. The Commission opened its investigation into whether TikTok violated the Digital Services Act more than two years ago. This year, it has already issued two other sets of preliminary findings, accusing the platform of breaching the rules with "addictive design" features that lead to compulsive use by children and charging it with failing to adequately protect children's privacy rights.

Why it matters

The case is part of the EU's enforcement of the Digital Services Act, a wide-ranging rulebook that requires tech companies to adhere to a framework under threat of hefty financial penalties. The outcome could affect how TikTok and other platforms design recommendation systems and user controls in Europe.

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Sources

• wral.com: EU says 'rabbit hole' video feeds on TikTok violate its digital rules :: WRAL.com
• bozemandailychronicle.com: EU says 'rabbit hole' video feeds on TikTok violate its digital rules
• belfasttelegraph.co.uk: EU says ‘rabbit hole’ video feeds on TikTok violate its digital rules | Belfast Telegraph
• engadget.com: The EU Accuses TikTok's 'Rabbit Hole' Algorithm Of Breaching Its Content Rules
• ottumwacourier.com: EU says 'rabbit hole' video feeds on TikTok violate its digital rules | Business | ottumwacourier.com
• irishexaminer.com: EU says ‘rabbit hole’ video feeds on TikTok violate its digital rules

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.