EU Alleges TikTok Harmful Algorithm, Risks 6% Fine

The European Commission issued preliminary findings accusing TikTok of breaching the EU’s Digital Services Act because its “For You” recommendation system can repeatedly steer users toward similar content, creating “rabbit holes” that may harm mental health, particularly for children and other vulnerable users. Regulators said TikTok’s existing safeguards have not adequately mitigated the risks and urged the company to give more weight to users’ stated preferences, make recommendation controls easier to use, regularly test the algorithm and consider no longer using viewing time to recommend videos. TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, could face a fine of up to 6% of its global annual turnover if the concerns are not addressed. The action comes amid wider scrutiny of social media’s effects on young people and efforts by governments to strengthen protections for minors.