TikTok charged for breaching EU rules with app's addictive features

TikTok was charged on Friday with breaching EU online content rules over what the bloc's regulator said were its addictive features and was told to change the design of its app or risk a fine of as much as 6% of owner ByteDance's global turnover.

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The EU watchdog's charges focus on TikTok's addictive design which includes features such as infinite scroll, autoplay, push notifications, and its highly personalised recommender system.

TikTok, whose algorithm is driven by the understanding of a user's interest and has been key to the social media app's global success, criticised the European Commission charges.

The regulatory move underscores the European Union's crackdown on Big Tech which has drawn criticism from the U.S. government over censorship and led to threats of tariffs.

The Commission set out its charges after a yearlong investigation under the Digital Services Act (DSA) which requires large online platforms to do more to tackle illegal and harmful content.

“The Commission's preliminary findings present a categorically false and entirely meritless depiction of our platform, and we will take whatever steps are necessary to challenge these findings,” a TikTok spokesperson said.