Child Protection: EU probes TikTok, YouTube

The EU announced investigations yesterday into YouTube and TikTok to find out what action the US and Chinese-owned platforms are taking to ensure the safety of minors on their platforms. The European Commission said it had sent formal requests for information to TikTok and YouTube respectively, the first step in procedures launched under the EU’s new law on digital content. The EU’s executive arm said it wanted to know what measures the video-sharing platforms have taken to comply with the Digital Services Act (DSA), especially regarding the risks posed to children’s mental and physical health. The DSA is part of the European Union’s powerful armoury to bring big tech to heel, and demands that digital giants do more to counter the spread of illegal and harmful content as well as disinformation. Platforms face fines that can go up to six percent of global turnover for violations. TikTok, owned by Chinese company ByteDance, is particularly popular with younger users, while YouTube is part of the Alphabet digital empire that includes Google. Both companies must respond by November 30. The EU’s top tech enforcer, Thierry Breton, said in August that “child protection will be an enforcement priority” for the DSA. The law has also banned targeted advertising to minors aged 17 and under.londonGBDESK//