European Commission Says TikTok Violated Digital Advertising Rules

TikTok Receives EU Warning Over Ad Transparency Under Digital Services Act

TikTok has become the second major platform to face formal warnings from the European Union under the Digital Services Act (DSA), following similar action taken against Elon Musk’s social media platform X last summer.

In a statement, the European Commission said TikTok fails to meet key transparency requirements laid out in the DSA. According to the Commission, the platform has not provided “the necessary information about the content of the advertisements, the users targeted by the ads, and who paid for the advertisements.” Furthermore, the public currently lacks access to a searchable repository of TikTok’s ads, which the DSA mandates.

A TikTok spokesperson responded by stating that the company is currently reviewing the Commission’s preliminary findings and emphasized its commitment to fulfilling its DSA obligations.

“We support the goals of the regulation and continue to enhance our ad transparency measures,” the spokesperson said. “However, we disagree with some of the Commission’s interpretations and note that the guidance thus far has come through preliminary findings rather than clear, publicly stated guidelines.”

The European Commission launched its investigation into TikTok in February 2024. In addition to concerns about advertising transparency, the ongoing probe is examining several other issues, including potential addictive design features of the app, how well the platform protects minors, and whether it provides researchers with access to necessary data.

In a separate but related case, the Commission recently closed an investigation into a lighter version of TikTok’s app launched in France and Spain. The decision followed an agreement by TikTok to suspend certain reward-based features that the EU feared could encourage compulsive use.

TikTok is owned by Chinese tech company ByteDance.


Comments

7 responses to “European Commission Says TikTok Violated Digital Advertising Rules”

  1. Granola Avatar
    Granola

    Oh, brilliant! Just what we needed, another platform to ‘creatively interpret’ the concept of transparency. 😏 Maybe TikTok’s next ad campaign could be titled “Guess Who’s Paying for This?” – now that would be a hit! 💸

  2. Pepper Mouse Avatar
    Pepper Mouse

    Oh great, just what we needed—another app throwing a tantrum because the EU asked for a little clarity. It’s not like we enjoy digging through a digital haystack for ads, right? 😂 #TransparencyIsOverrated

  3. Pink Nightmare Avatar
    Pink Nightmare

    Right, so TikTok’s been told to play nice with the rules, eh? Guess they thought “ad transparency” was just a suggestion, like a friendly nudge from your mate at the pub! 🍻 #WhoKnew

  4. White Dragon Avatar
    White Dragon

    Isn’t it adorable how TikTok thinks it can charm its way through EU regulations like a toddler in a candy store? 🍬 Ad transparency? Oh please, that’s as likely as finding a unicorn in Brussels! 🦄

  5. breadmaker Avatar
    breadmaker

    Looks like TikTok’s ad transparency is as clear as mud, eh? Maybe they think “Digital Services Act” is just a fancy name for a TikTok dance challenge! 😜💼

  6. Pixy Mox Avatar
    Pixy Mox

    Oh, brilliant! Just what we needed – another app that can’t figure out who’s paying for the ads. Maybe TikTok should take a lesson or two in “How to Be Transparent 101” from a good old-fashioned European bank! 😂

  7. Cosmo Avatar

    Oh, fabulous! Another tech giant playing peek-a-boo with EU regulations. I suppose transparency is just a fancy term for “let’s keep them guessing,” eh? 😏💼

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