Chinese social media company TikTok could be banned from the European Union if it doesn’t do more to comply with EU legislation before September, according to the top official overseeing the EU’s internal market.
Commissioner Thierry Breton warned TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew that the company needs to get its business in line with the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA) well before the September 1st deadline. “We will not hesitate to adopt the full scope of sanctions to protect our citizens if audits do not show full compliance”, Breton said.
Nefarious purposes
TikTok responded by stating that it is dedicated to the DSA. The company detailed its efforts to conform with other EU regulations, such as the GDPR and disinformation code of conduct. TikTok has been under scrutiny for several years due to concerns over the Chinese government possibly being able to access and manipulate user data.
This pressure grew last month after TikTok admitted that some of its employees inappropriately accessed the user data of two journalists to uncover the source of information leaks to the media.
“With younger audiences comes greater responsibility”, Commissioner Breton noted. “It is not acceptable that behind seemingly fun and harmless features, it takes users seconds to access harmful and sometimes even life-threatening content.”
TikTok says it will cooperate
The DSA compels internet platforms to do more to regulate the internet for illicit material. Infractions can result in fines of up to 6 percent of global annual revenue. TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew recently visited Brussels to meet with EU antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager. The company promised to adhere to increasingly tough digital standards and obligations.