BRUSSELS – Not a day goes by, now, without an initiative from the European Commission in the vast digital sector. The EU executive announced today, Friday, July 24, that it considers TikTok to be in violation of the Digital Services Act regarding the rules applied to accounts managed by minors. The company has the opportunity to respond to the European Commission’s findings. If the explanations provided are not sufficient, Brussels could impose a fine.
Read more Confindustria, oil and gas slow down the economy: companies ask for loans to pay the …
Ask the Sun
Questions are automatically suggested by 24Ore AI
based on the displayed content.
According to the EU executive, minors on TikTok can choose to set their account as “public”. This means that any user, including those who do not have a TikTok account, can view their content. This setting also allows content published by “older” minors (aged between 16 and 17) to be recommended to any other user of the Chinese platform.
«This visibility could lead to unwanted contact from potential abusers and the risk that content could be used for cyberbullying purposes,» explains Brussels. «This feature potentially offers strangers a window into a child’s life. Furthermore, since what minors publish could remain online forever and follow them into adulthood, the feature carries the risk of consequences that could last a lifetime.»
Read more Air quality: Regions cannot ask for more funds to implement EU rules
«Minors deserve a safe experience from the moment they connect to the Internet – explains in a statement Henna Virkkunen, Vice-President of the European Commission –. The Digital Services Act requires platforms to integrate protection measures for minors into the design of their services and holds them accountable if they fail to do so. A high level of protection should not be an optional choice, but should be the default setting.»
The European Commission itself confirmed in mid-July that it intends to present a legislative proposal in the autumn to regulate younger people’s access to the Internet. The awaited proposal will be based on recommendations presented by a group of experts who, in a report, suggest a gradual approach, depending on the user’s age and the site’s content, limiting contact with the Internet as much as possible before the age of 13 (see Il Sole/24 Ore of July 14).
Read more FS, some unions are striking today and tomorrow, possible repercussions
