EU DEMANDS TIKTOK TIGHTEN TEEN PRIVACY BY DEFAULT

The EU's escalated probe targets TikTok's handling of teen user safety and privacy. The Commission wants minors' accounts set to private by default, with posted content visible only to approved followers—not recommended broadly across the platform. Currently, TikTok requires teens to manually adjust privacy settings, placing the burden on users rather than the platform. The EU argues this approach fails to meet Digital Services Act obligations to protect children online. The preliminary findings represent a significant step in the Commission's investigation. TikTok now faces specific requirements to address before potential enforcement action. The platform has an opportunity to respond to the accusations, but the EU's position signals stricter enforcement of child protection rules across major social networks. This move aligns with Europe's broader regulatory push to make tech platforms responsible for user safety by default, rather than relying on individual privacy choices.