EU demands TikTok overhaul algorithm risks or face penalties

The European Commission has given TikTok an ultimatum to restructure its content recommendation system, citing concerns that the platform's algorithm directs users toward increasingly problematic material in ways they struggle to escape. Officials characterized the issue as a significant risk under the bloc's Digital Services Act, which governs how major technology platforms operate in Europe.

In formal correspondence to the company, European regulators stated that TikTok's For You feed creates pathways that can lead vulnerable users, particularly young people, into "rabbit holes" of potentially harmful content. The Commission expressed particular concern about material related to eating disorders, self-harm, and other sensitive topics.

TikTok has been asked to submit a comprehensive remediation plan outlining how it will modify its algorithmic recommendations to address these concerns. The platform must demonstrate substantial progress or face enforcement action, including financial penalties that could reach into the billions of euros under EU regulations.

The order marks the latest regulatory action against major social media platforms in Europe, where authorities have increasingly scrutinized algorithmic recommendation systems and their effects on user wellbeing. TikTok has previously faced pressure from multiple jurisdictions over content moderation and data privacy practices.