TikTok told by EU to change For You feed or risk fines

The EU told TikTok on Friday to change the design of its personalised For You feed or risk large fines under the bloc's digital content rules. TikTok rejected the accusations.

The European Union said TikTok's recommendation system can expose children and vulnerable people to potentially damaging content by pushing streams of videos similar to those a user has already engaged with.

Brussels accused TikTok of violating the Digital Services Act over what it called a harmful “rabbit holes” effect. The European Commission said TikTok's algorithm recommends more of the same type of content as a user interacts with it and that the design can be harmful when repeated exposure involves content about sadness, isolation or body image.

The EU said TikTok's algorithm can continue to suggest similar videos even when users say they are not interested in certain content. It said changes already made by TikTok to reduce risks were not effective and called for more substantial design changes.

The commission said possible changes could include relying more on users' explicit preferences, disabling viewing time as a recommendation signal, improving user controls and regularly testing the algorithm.

A TikTok spokesperson said the EU's statements were “fundamentally inaccurate” and distorted the platform's architecture and commitment to user safety. The spokesperson said TikTok has a strong record of protecting users while giving them direct control over their content experience.

TikTok can now access the EU's files and defend itself against the accusations. If the regulator's views are confirmed, the European Commission can impose a fine of up to six percent of the company's total worldwide annual turnover.

The EU said its February findings on TikTok focused on features such as notifications, while Friday's view concerned the algorithm itself. The bloc has also investigated major social media platforms under the Digital Services Act as part of efforts to protect children online.