The EU threatens TikTok with a multimillion-dollar fine for its addictive design

New offensive by the European Commission against Big TechBrussels announced on Friday that it has reached a "preliminary" conclusion that TikTok violates European digital regulations due to its addictive design. The European Commission alleges that the social network features infinite scrolling, autoplay, mobile notifications, and a "highly personalized" recommendation system. The European Commission's investigation indicates that TikTok "has not adequately assessed" how these addictive features could harm the physical and mental well-being of its users, including minors and vulnerable adults. Specifically, Brussels criticizes the fact that it "constantly rewards users with new content." "Certain design features of TikTok fuel the need to keep scrolling and put users' brains on autopilot," the Commission said in a statement. Brussels also indicates that the investigation "demonstrates" that these tools can lead to "compulsive behavior and reduce users' self-control." Furthermore, the European Commission criticizes TikTok for "ignoring important indicators of compulsive app use," such as the amount of time minors spend on TikTok at night, how frequently users open the app, and other potential indicators. The European Commission also laments that the Chinese social network does not implement "effective" measures to mitigate the risks stemming from its "addictive design." "Screen time management tools and parental control tools do not appear to effectively reduce the risks arising from TikTok's addictive design," Brussels concludes. Thus, the EU executive demands that TikTok change the "basic design of its service." The threat of a multimillion-euro fine

The European Commission has warned TikTok that if it does not cooperate with EU authorities and make the necessary changes to the social network's design, it risks a multimillion-euro fine, which could amount to 6% of the company's global revenue. This would not be the first time Brussels has imposed a financial penalty of this magnitude on a major technology company.

Last December, the European Commission fined the social network 'X'—formerly Twitter—€120 million for violating EU law, an amount representing approximately 5% of the global revenue of Elon Musk's company. In this case, Brussels decided to fine X primarily for its account verification system, which no longer grants verification based on factors such as popularity or public opinion, but rather can be obtained simply by paying a monthly fee. In this regard, sources within the European Commission allege that some individuals, particularly politicians, abuse the false notoriety that a verified account provides, even when there is no real person behind the username.