According to a preliminary assessment by the EU Commission, the TIIKKOKT social media platform violates EU digital rules. It's about non -transparent advertising. This could be expensive for the company.
According to the EU Commission, the TIITKOK video platform violates the European rules for advertising online. Unlike prescribed by an EU law, the company, whose owner bytedance is based in China, has so far not set up a sufficiently detailed database with information on advertisements on Tiktok, the EU Commission said.
The data published by Tikok is therefore not sufficient, which is why Tikkok has to expect a high fine. The platform does not provide any information on which users are addressed with personalized advertising. It is also not clear who finances which advertisements. The search function in the company's advertising archive is also poor, “which means that the benefits of this tool is restricted,” said the Commission.
“The citizens have a right to know who is behind the messages they see,” said EU digital commissioner Henna Virkkuns. A functioning database is of “crucial importance” for science and the public, emphasized the Commission. Comprehensive information could help display fraudulent or fake people and to uncover the spread of false information. This applies particularly in the context of elections.
Several procedures in Brussels
Last year, the EU Commission started investigations against Tiktok in connection with a first round of the presidential elections in Romania. Brussels accused the platform of not identifying videos of the then ultra -right candidate Calin Georgescu as an election advertising. A Romanian court had declared the election to be void for suspicion of election interference from Russia. When the election is repeated, the ultra -right politicians George Simion competed instead of Georgus, and he is also popular on Tiktok. He goes as a favorite on Sunday in the runoff election against the pro-European Nicosur Dan.
In Brussels, further procedures run against Tiktok. Among other things, it is about protecting minors from depictions of violence and addiction to the platform. If the allegations of the EU Commission are confirmed, the company threatens high fines.
