EU officers are losing no time enacting their new powers underneath the Digital Companies Act (DSA), with the European Fee saying a new investigation into whether or not TikTok is at the moment in violation of DSA guidelines in relation to the safety of minors within the app.

Issues have really been raised round TikTok’s compliance on a number of fronts, together with systemic dangers associated to app habit, its age verification processes, its safety measures for minors, information transparency, and extra.

As per the European Fee:

“On the premise of the preliminary investigation carried out up to now, together with on the premise of an evaluation of the danger evaluation report despatched by TikTok in September 2023, in addition to TikTok’s replies to the Fee’s formal Requests for Info (on unlawful content material, safety of minors, and information entry), the Fee has determined to open formal proceedings in opposition to TikTok underneath the Digital Companies Act.”

It’s the second main probe underneath the brand new DSA legal guidelines, with X additionally at the moment underneath EU investigation over its efforts in limiting unlawful content material, and stopping the unfold of misinformation within the app.

TikTok will now want to supply additional data to EU investigators to evaluate its efforts, with a most penalty of as much as 6% of its international earnings on the playing cards whether it is discovered to be in violation.

Although that’s in all probability unlikely, on condition that the DSA additionally contains clauses that allow investigators to “settle for any dedication made by TikTok to treatment on the issues topic to the continuing”.

On condition that the DSA has solely just lately been initiated, this may in all probability be the end result of those early investigations, although EU officers might also wish to ship a robust message early, with a view to underline the seriousness of the brand new guidelines.

Although there’s additionally this:

”The period of an in-depth investigation will depend on a number of components, together with the complexity of the case, the extent to which the corporate involved cooperates with the Fee and the train of the rights of defence.”

So any investigation may keep on for a while, which means we received’t know the end result for some time but. However once more, doubtlessly, TikTok may face huge fines whether it is discovered to be in breach, and it fails to take motion to handle any highlighted considerations.

It’ll be attention-grabbing to see how EU officers look to enact the rules, and hold every platform in keeping with these extra restrictive processes. That might get particularly advanced with the DSA, given the variable interpretations round what constitutes enough motion on sure fronts.

As such, these early instances may play a key position in establishing precedent, which may certainly see huge fines coming, and will even power apps to reassess their operations within the area because of this.  

I imply, Meta has threatened that earlier than, and relying on how EU officers method these new legal guidelines, there might be additional considerations on this entrance.