European Commission accuses TikTok of failing to protect users' mental health

The European Commission, the European Union's executive body, has brought formal charges against the short-video platform TikTok, arguing that the service does not adequately protect its users' mental health. The move is part of a broader investigation under the Digital Services Act (DSA), the EU rulebook that obliges large technology platforms to prevent harm to public health. If the violations are confirmed in a final decision, the company could face a fine of up to 6% of its global annual turnover.

What the regulator says

According to the Commission's preliminary findings, TikTok's algorithms create risks by exposing young people and other vulnerable users to a constant stream of repetitive content. Such material often touches on body image, eating disorders or social isolation, and it can significantly worsen anxiety and depression.

The investigation stresses that the algorithm draws users into so-called "rabbit holes" that are hard to escape. The Commission says the problem lies not in individual illegal videos but in the cumulative effect of watching hundreds of similar posts.

It also considers the existing safeguards ineffective. Even when a user marks diet-related content as "not interested", the system keeps recommending similar material, while resetting the feed offers only brief relief. The Commission says the root of the problem is TikTok's business model, which relies on maximum user engagement and endless scrolling.

TikTok's response

Company representatives categorically reject the claims, calling them inaccurate and a distortion of how the platform works. TikTok stresses that its rules prohibit content that promotes eating disorders and that users in Europe have access to extensive content-filtering tools.

What happens next

TikTok can now review the case materials and submit its arguments, or alternatively change its recommendation algorithms.