European Commission’s Preliminary Finding Against TikTok Is a Landmark Moment for Platform Accountability
Brussels — The European Commission today announced a preliminary finding that TikTok’s platform design contributes to addictive use and may violate the European Union’s Digital Services Act (DSA). The finding requires TikTok to fundamentally change to its business model, including disabling addictive features such as “infinite scroll”.
The decision marks one of the most significant applications of the DSA’s provisions on harmful design — challenging a business model built on algorithmically-powered engagement and addiction. It sets an important precedent for how digital power will be governed in Europe.
“For too long, tech giants have been allowed to optimise their platforms for addiction and engagement at the expense of individuals’ wellbeing and their fundamental rights to control what they read and watch. Today’s announcement by the Commission is an important step towards fixing this, and highlights why it is so vital to strongly enforce the Digital Services Act,” said Max von Thun, Director of Europe & Transatlantic Partnerships at the Open Markets Institute. “TikTok is far from the only platform that profits from online addiction, and the Commission should move swiftly to impose similar measures on other dominant – and equally dangerous – social media giants.”
The Open Markets Institute has consistently argued that tech monopolies design their platforms to manipulate individuals in ways that boost their already dangerous levels of political and economic power, violate the freedoms of individuals, and undermine democracy. This preliminary decision signals that regulators can act boldly to curb exploitative behaviours and bring digital markets in line with public values.