EU accuses TikTok of exposing children to risks online

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Brussels: The European Union has formally accused TikTok of failing to adequately protect children, warning that its account settings leave minors exposed to online risks such as cyberbullying and predatory behavior. 

In preliminary findings under the Digital Services Act (DSA), Brussels stated that the platform fails to enforce maximum default safety standards, putting the company at risk of fines reaching six percent of its total worldwide annual turnover.

EU tech chief Henna Virkkunen emphasised that high-level protection must be the default rather than an opt-in feature. Regulators found that minors can easily make accounts public or be discovered through followers lists even when set to private.

 Brussels has ordered TikTok to adjust default settings so accounts are visible only to accepted connections. In response, TikTok insisted that under-18 accounts are private by default with over 50 safety features, stating it will constructively review the findings.

The action comes amidst an intensified crackdown on Big Tech across Europe. The EU is preparing new regulations expected later this year, including a potential ban on social media for children under 13 and the rollout of a bloc-wide age verification app.