EU accuses TikTok of exposing children to risks online

The European Union on Friday accused TikTok of failing to protect children since their account settings expose them to risks like cyberbullying and predatory behaviour — putting the company at risk of a large fine. The EU said minors’ accounts should only be visible to those they have given permission. Children aged 13 and over can use TikTok.

“A high level of protection should not be an opt-in; it should be the default,” EU tech chief Henna Virkkunen said in a statement. TikTok insisted it was committed to protecting minors online. Brussels began its probe into Chinese-owned TikTok in 2024 under the Digital Services Act (DSA) — a content law and major weapon in the EU’s boosted legal armoury that it has deployed to rein in Big Tech in recent years.

Under the DSA, children’s account settings have, by default, the strongest safety and security protections. “TikTok’s account settings fail to meet this standard, as they expose minors’ accounts and content too widely,” the EU said in its preliminary view. The EU found during the investigation that minors can make their account public, meaning anyone with or without a TikTok account can see their content.

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Even when children choose to make their accounts private, they can be “easily found” through other users’ “following” and “followers” lists. “TikTok’s settings continue to expose them to risks — including unwanted contact, cyberbullying, or predatory behaviour,” the EU warned. Brussels told TikTok to adjust the default settings for minors’ “public” accounts, making them only visible to users whom the child has accepted.

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