The Chief Executive Officer of TikTok, a Chinese-owned app, has been urged by the EU’s primary tech enforcer to take robust action against disinformation. Despite acknowledging some positive changes made by the video-sharing platform, the EU has highlighted the need for TikTok to intensify efforts in countering misleading information.
TikTok, favored among younger internet users, is among 19 platforms subject to stricter regulations regarding the management of illegal and harmful online content under a significant EU law.
Thierry Breton, the EU’s internal market commissioner, commended recent alterations on TikTok’s platform aimed at user protection, including the introduction of new features and investments in content moderation and safety measures. Following a conversation with TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew, Breton emphasized the significance of ensuring compliance, particularly concerning the platform’s response to the Digital Services Act (DSA).
TikTok revealed the removal of four million “violative” videos in the European Union in September, marking its initial transparency report since the DSA’s implementation across the bloc. The DSA mandates major platforms to issue transparency reports biannually.
Breton mentioned an ongoing investigation by the European Commission to evaluate TikTok’s adherence to the DSA, initiated last month, emphasizing the critical need to protect citizens, particularly children and teenagers, from illegal content and disinformation.
TikTok’s vice president for public policy in Europe, Theo Bertram, expressed positivity regarding discussions on the platform’s DSA progress with the EU. The company continues to collaborate closely with the Commission to ensure compliance.
TikTok’s CEO, Shou Zi Chew, is scheduled to meet EU commissioners in Brussels to discuss various matters, including data protection and the EU’s stringent measures on regulating the market power of major tech companies.
