The European Union has warned that TikTok's video-recommendation algorithm risks exposing children and vulnerable individuals to potentially damaging content. Regulators claim the system pushes users down rabbit holes of harmful content that they cannot easily escape from by streaming videos similar to those with which the user has previously engaged.
The 27-nation bloc's executive arm stated that TikTok must change the design of its For You feed to provide users with more control over opting out of certain content. While the platform has implemented some changes, the EU has declared these efforts insufficient and is demanding more radical improvements.
This escalation follows an almost three-year probe into the video-sharing app. TikTok's Chinese owner, ByteDance, now faces a potential fine of up to 6% of its global annual turnover next year if the issue is not resolved. TikTok has rejected the findings, describing the accusations as fundamentally inaccurate.