The European Union has warned TikTok that key features of its addictive design breach EU law and must be changed to avoid heavy financial penalties.
In a statement issued on Friday, the European Commission said the popular video-sharing app fails to comply with the Digital Services Act (DSA), the bloc’s flagship legislation aimed at protecting users online. The preliminary findings mark the first time the Commission has formally assessed the design of a social media platform under the DSA.
Regulators said TikTok should make substantial changes to how it recommends content, introduce more effective screen-time breaks and disable features such as infinite scrolling and autoplay. These elements, the Commission argued, encourage compulsive use and pose risks to users’ mental health.
If TikTok does not address the concerns, it could face fines of up to 6% of its global annual turnover. The company has been given the opportunity to review the evidence and respond to the findings.
TikTok strongly rejected the Commission’s assessment. A spokesperson said the conclusions presented a “categorically false and entirely meritless depiction” of the platform and confirmed the company would challenge the decision.
The investigation into TikTok’s addictive design began in February 2024. In May 2025, the company was already accused of breaching EU transparency rules. Other aspects of the probe, including age verification and the operation of TikTok’s recommendation system, are still ongoing.
A senior Commission official described the move as the first time a global legal standard had been set specifically addressing addictive digital design. EU tech chief Henna Virkkunen said such features were particularly harmful to minors, who may lack the tools to manage compulsive online behaviour.
The case is being closely watched across the tech industry. Other major platforms, including Meta’s Facebook and Instagram services, are also under investigation for potentially harmful algorithmic practices.
While TikTok has introduced parental controls and time management tools, the Commission said these measures do not sufficiently reduce risks to mental health, especially when weighed against the platform’s core design features.
