European Union accuses TikTok of breaching digital rules with lack of transparency on ads
By KELVIN CHAN LONDON AP European Union regulators accused TikTok on Thursday of breaching digital content rules because it s not being transparent enough about ads shown to users of the video sharing app Related Articles Average rate on a US -year mortgage rises to its highest level since late April Dick s Sporting Goods to buy struggling shoe chain Foot Locker for billion Retail sales slow in April after a spending splurge as Americans sought to front-run tariffs Great Recession taught me lessons that still apply now US applications for jobless benefits hold firm as layoffs remain low despite tariff uncertainty TikTok s ad repository isn t up to the standards required by the bloc s Digital Services Act known as the DSA the -nation EU s executive Commission commented in preliminary findings from its research The Commission declared ad databases are vital for researchers to detect scam ads as well as so-called hybrid threat campaigns coordinated information operations and fake ads including in the context of elections The DSA is a wide-ranging rulebook that aims to clean up social media platforms and protect users from risks including election-related disinformation Platforms have to be transparent about digital ads including informing users why they re being shown a specific advertisement and who paid for it The Commission noted TikTok doesn t provide necessary information about the content of ads the users targeted and who pays for them The database doesn t allow for a comprehensive search for ads based on this information thereby limiting the usefulness of the tool it mentioned TikTok stated it s reviewing the Commission s findings and remains committed to meeting its DSA obligations While we patronage the goals of the regulation and continue to improve our ad transparency tools we disagree with specific of the Commission s interpretations and note that guidance is being delivered via preliminary findings rather than clear citizens guidelines the company commented in a announcement The ad database s shortcomings prevent a full inspection of the risks posed by its ad targeting systems reported Henna Virkkunen the commission s executive vice-president for tech sovereignty precaution and democracy Transparency in online advertising who pays and how audiences are targeted is essential to safeguarding the society interest Virkkunen explained Whether we are defending the integrity of our democratic elections protecting populace physical condition or protecting consumers from scam ads citizens have a right to know who is behind the messages they see TikTok now has a chance to reply before the Commission issues its final decision which could end in a fine of up to of the company s annual global revenue TikTok is being scrutinized in a separate EU analysis into whether it failed to deal with risks to Romania s presidential ballot which was thrown into turmoil last year over statements of electoral violations and Russian meddling
