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EU Finds TikTok in Breach of DSA for 'Addictive' Design, Orders App Changes

Brussels now moves the case into a defense phase before deciding on penalties of up to 6% of global turnover.

Overview

  • The European Commission says TikTok’s infinite scroll, autoplay, repeated push notifications and hyper‑personalized recommendations drive compulsive use, particularly among minors.
  • Officials judged TikTok’s time‑limit tools easy to bypass and said parental controls demand too many steps for families to use effectively.
  • Investigators faulted TikTok’s risk report for omitting key indicators of problematic use, including how long minors use the app at night.
  • Brussels outlined fixes such as disabling infinite scroll after a set browsing period, instituting real pauses at night, and adjusting the recommendation system.
  • TikTok can now review the case file, respond and implement corrective measures, with potential fines reaching 6% of annual global turnover, as EU officials note the company has been cooperative and a separate Romania interference probe continues.