TikTok’s protection of minors should not be opt-in, warns EU

The European Commission has initiated preliminary proceedings against TikTok under the Digital Services Act (DSA), raising concerns over the platform's child protection measures. This action highlights the EU's assertive stance in regulating major digital platforms to ensure user safety, particularly for minors. The Commission's findings point to specific areas where TikTok's current practices are deemed insufficient, signaling a push for more robust default safety settings. The core issue identified by the Commission revolves around the privacy settings for minors' public accounts. Specifically, the EU is recommending that content posted by underage users should not be discoverable through the platform's "For You" feed and should default to being visible only to approved connections. Even private accounts, the Commission notes, can still be exposed through other users' "following" lists, presenting a potential loophole in current privacy controls. These findings will impact TikTok's operations within the EU and could set a precedent for how other social media platforms manage the digital safety of young users. The DSA empowers the Commission to mandate changes to platform design and policies, directly affecting how content is disseminated and how user data, especially that of minors, is protected. The outcome of these proceedings could significantly shape the landscape of online child safety regulations in Europe.