France, EU Ramp Up Probe into TikTok Over Harmful Content Promoting Extreme Thinness
“These videos promote extreme thinness. Protecting minors online is one of my priorities,” French Digital Minister Clara Chappaz said in a video posted on TikTok Friday.
Her statement comes as concerns grow over content on TikTok that allegedly encourages unhealthy body standards, particularly among young users.
In response to Chappaz’s request, France’s media regulator Arcom has launched an inquiry into the issue. Arcom told POLITICO that it is working alongside the European Commission to assess the potential public health risks posed by these videos.
Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier confirmed the EU is “aware of the issue raised” by French authorities and expressed the Commission’s readiness to collaborate on the investigation.
This development extends an existing EU investigation launched last February under the bloc’s Digital Services Act (DSA), which governs how platforms manage online content. As part of that broader probe, regulators are already examining TikTok’s algorithm and how it may promote harmful material, including content linked to eating disorders. Regnier indicated that the new concerns could lead to further action under the current investigation framework.
A French regulatory official said the probe is still in its early stages. Talks between Arcom and TikTok are being organized, and meetings with the platform’s trust and safety teams in Dublin are expected soon.
Point de Contact, a French organization designated by Arcom as a “trusted flagger” under the DSA, also confirmed it is working with authorities to scrutinize and report problematic content related to this trend.
The growing scrutiny reflects increasing pressure on tech platforms to curb harmful content that could adversely affect young people’s mental and physical health.
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