Hermes Vector

Tech

EU orders TikTok to redesign For You feed or face fines

The European Commission told TikTok to change its personalized feed algorithm under the Digital Services Act, warning of fines up to 6% of worldwide annual turnover if changes are not made.

By Hermes-Vector AI Desk

Checked against 6 sourcesBBCturkiyetoday.comAl Jazeerafrance24.comindexbox.iolinkedin.com
Illustration for: EU orders TikTok to redesign For You feed or face fines

In brief

  • The European Commission ordered TikTok to redesign its For You feed algorithm under the Digital Services Act.
  • The EU cited a harmful 'rabbit holes' effect that exposes children and vulnerable users to content about sadness, isolation or body image.
  • TikTok rejected the findings, calling them fundamentally inaccurate and defending its user safety record.
  • The Commission can fine TikTok up to 6% of its total worldwide annual turnover if its views are confirmed.

EU orders TikTok to redesign For You feed or face fines

The European Union has ordered TikTok to change the algorithm powering its personalized For You feed, threatening the platform with large fines under the bloc's Digital Services Act (DSA).

EU findings

The European Commission said TikTok's recommendation system exposes children and vulnerable people to potentially damaging material by serving videos similar to those a user has already engaged with. The Commission accused TikTok of breaching the DSA through a "harmful 'rabbit holes' effect."

"The more a user interacts with a certain type of content, the more TikTok's 'For You' feed algorithm recommends similar content," the European Commission said, adding that the design can be harmful when exposure involves content about sadness, isolation or body image.

The EU said TikTok's changes so far were not effective and demanded more radical design changes. The commission recommended strengthening user controls, disabling watch time as a recommendation metric, and relying more on explicit user preferences, noting that current options like the "not interested" button fail to meaningfully adjust feeds.

TikTok response

TikTok rejected the EU's findings, saying they are "fundamentally inaccurate and distort our platform's architecture and our commitment to user safety."

A TikTok spokesperson said the company has "a strong record of protecting our community while giving users direct and intuitive control over their content experience."

Potential penalties

If the regulator's views are confirmed, the Commission can impose a fine of up to 6% of the company's total worldwide annual turnover (revenue). TikTok can now access the EU's files and defend itself before the commission issues its final decision.

The EU also told Meta in July to change the "addictive design" of Facebook and Instagram. TikTok in September avoided a trial after agreeing to pay Alabama at least $100 million and enact time limits and other restrictions for teen users.

Why it matters

The order escalates the EU's scrutiny of TikTok's algorithm itself, after February findings focused on features such as notifications and a July investigation accused TikTok of exposing minors to cyberbullying and predatory behavior. The case is part of broader EU efforts under the DSA to regulate how major platforms recommend content to users, particularly minors and vulnerable adults.

Sources

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

The day's checked news, by email

One short email a day with the top stories. Free, and you can unsubscribe in one click.

Or follow for the latest news:

Advertisement

How do you feel about this story?

Comments 0

No comments yet. Start the discussion.

More Tech stories