Post by : Badri Ariffin

The European Commission has voiced concerns regarding TikTok and Meta, highlighting potential breaches of the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA). Initial findings indicate that both social media platforms may be obstructing researchers from accessing necessary public data, which could adversely affect studies focused on user safety and exposure to harmful or illegal content.

According to the DSA, these platforms must ensure “adequate access” to their public datasets, allowing researchers to assess the implications of social media on physical and mental health. The Commission asserts that Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok have implemented complex procedures that often yield incomplete or unreliable datasets.

Along with issues of data transparency, it appears that Meta, which includes Facebook and Instagram, is not providing straightforward ways for users to report illegal content or contest moderation decisions effectively.

Should these preliminary findings be substantiated, the Commission could levy fines of up to 6% of a company's total global annual revenue, potentially amounting to billions for both ByteDance (TikTok) and Meta.

This isn't the first instance of EU action; earlier in the year, Meta incurred a €200 million fine linked to the Digital Markets Act over user consent issues for data collection. Moreover, TikTok was penalized €530 million by the Irish Data Protection Commission for its data transfers to China.

The Commission has requested both companies to assess its findings and provide a written response. These investigations mirror the EU’s overarching initiative to enforce accountability among Big Tech and advocate for transparency, user safety, and fairness in online platforms.