EU against TikTok, content harmful to users on the 'For You' feed

The European Commission preliminarily believes that TikTok violates the Digital Services Act (DSA) due to the so-called 'rabbit hole' effect of its content recommendation system.

According to the EU executive, the platform's 'For you' feed can expose users to a continuous and repetitive sequence of videos, including on topics related to mental health and body image, with possible negative effects on the psychological well-being, particularly of minors and vulnerable adults. If the findings are confirmed, TikTok risks a fine of up to 6% of its annual worldwide turnover.

The company's response was immediate: "The Commission has made a series of statements that are materially inaccurate and misrepresent the architecture of our platform and our commitment to user safety," a spokesperson said. “We have a strong track record of protecting our community while giving users direct and intuitive control over their content experience,” he added.