The European Commission has issued preliminary findings stating that TikTok is in breach of the Digital Services Act due to addictive design features like infinite scroll and autoplay. If these findings are confirmed, the social media giant faces potential fines of up to 6 percent of its global annual turnover unless it implements significant changes to its core service design.
TikTok is currently facing significant legal pressure from the European Commission over allegations that its platform design violates the Digital Services Act. Regulators argue that the app utilizes addictive features such as infinite scrolling, push notifications, and personalized recommendations that bypass user self-control. According to the commission, these elements effectively place users in an autopilot mode by constantly providing rewards through new content. This compulsive loop is particularly concerning regarding its impact on the physical and mental well-being of minors and vulnerable adults.
The preliminary investigation suggests that TikTok failed to properly assess the risks associated with its interface and ignored clear indicators of compulsive usage. Specifically, the commission noted that the platform disregarded data concerning how often users open the app and the amount of time minors spend scrolling during late-night hours. While TikTok does offer some safety tools like parental controls and screen-time management, EU officials labeled these measures ineffective because they are easy to bypass and require manual activation.
EU tech commissioner Henna Virkkunen emphasized that the Digital Services Act was created to hold platforms accountable for the psychological effects they have on their users. The commission is now demanding that TikTok overhaul its recommendation systems and implement mandatory screen-time breaks to protect European citizens. These findings are part of a broader trend of legal scrutiny against the platform across the continent, including a separate criminal investigation recently opened by French prosecutors regarding the mental health of children.
This latest regulatory challenge follows a history of substantial financial penalties for the company within the European Union. In May 2025, the Irish Data Protection Commission fined TikTok over 600 million dollars for violating GDPR regulations by illegally transferring European user data to China. Additionally, the platform was previously fined hundreds of millions of dollars for violating the privacy of children and using deceptive design patterns during the account registration process.
To avoid the massive new fines associated with these current findings, TikTok must demonstrate a commitment to redesigning its platform for safety rather than engagement. The commission has made it clear that the responsibility for user protection lies with the service provider rather than the individual. As the investigation moves toward a final decision, the company will likely need to disable its most addictive features or face a penalty that could amount to billions of dollars based on its global revenue.
Source: EU Says TikTok Faces Large Fine Over Alleged Addictive Design