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EU accuses TikTok of “addictive design” under new digital censorship law – NaturalNews.com

• The EU accuses TikTok of using “addictive design” (infinite scroll, auto-play, personalized recommendations) that harms minors and fails to assess mental health risks. Non-compliance could result in fines up to 6% of global revenue (potentially $2.1 billion).
• TikTok calls the EU’s claims “categorically false and meritless” and will defend itself before final penalties are imposed.
• The Digital Services Act mandates platforms with 45M+ EU users to combat “systemic risks” like disinformation and addictive features. Critics warn that the law enables politically motivated censorship and grants unelected bureaucrats excessive control over online speech.
• Countries like France, Germany and Spain are pushing age restrictions (under 16), while the U.S. sues TikTok and Meta over youth mental health harms. Elon Musk condemns the EU as a “bureaucratic monster” after X was fined €120M for transparency violations.
• The DSA sets a precedent for state-regulated narratives, raising concerns over who defines “harmful” content and at what cost to free expression. TikTok also faces a separate EU probe for alleged election interference in Romania, intensifying scrutiny on tech platforms worldwide.

The European Union has escalated its crackdown on Big Tech, accusing TikTok of employing an “addictive design” that harms users—particularly minors—while enforcing sweeping new censorship rules under the Digital Services Act (DSA). The Chinese-owned platform faces potential fines of up to 6% of its global revenue if it fails to comply, marking one of the most aggressive regulatory moves against social media to date. Critics warn, however, that the law’s broad mandates risk stifling free speech and empowering unelected bureaucrats to dictate online discourse.

In a preliminary decision announced Friday, Feb. 6, the European Commission (EC) claimed TikTok’s algorithm-driven infinite scroll, auto-play videos and personalized recommendations push users into “autopilot mode,” fostering compulsive behavior. The EC alleges the platform failed to assess risks to users’ “physical and mental wellbeing,” especially among children.

TikTok, which boasts over 200 million European users, rejected the findings as “categorically false and entirely meritless.” The company now has an opportunity to respond before final penalties are imposed. If found in violation, TikTok could owe billions—potentially up to $2.1 billion, based on estimated 2024 revenue.