European Commission warns Meta and TikTok over breaches of EU digital law

The European Commission has accused TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram of failing to comply with the EU Digital Services Act (DSA), Deutsche Welle reports.

According to the regulator, the platforms have restricted researchers’ access to data and failed to provide users with effective tools for submitting complaints or reporting illegal content.

Officials in Brussels noted that the barriers created by these platforms result in “incomplete and unreliable data,” which hampers academic studies — including research on the impact of online content on minors. The Commission emphasized that open data access is a key component of the transparency principles enshrined in the DSA.

Separate complaints were directed at Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram. The regulator claims the company does not provide user-friendly tools for reporting illegal material, including content related to child sexual abuse and terrorism propaganda. The complaint procedures are described as overly complicated and containing “manipulative design elements” that may discourage users from filing reports.

The Commission also pointed to deficiencies in Meta’s content moderation appeal mechanisms, noting that users whose posts have been removed or accounts suspended lack an effective means of challenging such decisions.

Meta and TikTok have been given time to submit their explanations and written responses to the allegations. If violations are confirmed, the companies could face fines of up to 6% of their global annual revenue.

The Digital Services Act obliges major online platforms with over 45 million users in the EU to take measures protecting citizens from illegal content, goods, and services. In addition to Meta and TikTok, other tech giants such as Amazon and Google also fall under the European Commission’s supervision.

By Khagan Isayev