According to the European Commission, both (the American) Meta and (the Chinese) TikTok are breaking European law for digital internet services, the DSA. The platforms give EU regulators insufficient access to usage data, making oversight of harmful or illegal content barely possible.
Meta, owner of Facebook and Instagram, is further accused of still not providing users with an easy way to report illegal content or appeal moderation decisions. By doing so, the company allegedly fails to sufficiently respect its customers' rights.
Meta denies violating European rules. The company states that since the introduction of the DSA it has made changes to its procedures for reporting content, appeals, and data access. According to Meta, these comply with EU requirements.
TikTok also denies the accusations and emphasizes that it values transparency. The company claims that the Commission's demands create a conflict between the DSA and the European privacy law GDPR, and asks regulators for clarity on how to reconcile both laws.
The European Commission calls the internal procedures of both platforms “excessively burdensome.” Researchers often receive incomplete or unreliable data due to slow and complex access rules, making it still impossible to determine whether minor internet users are sufficiently protected.
If the preliminary findings are confirmed, Meta and TikTok could face fines up to six percent of their global turnover. The companies may now submit their defenses and adjust their operations before Brussels makes a final decision.
The investigations into Meta and TikTok are part of broader EU efforts to limit the power of large tech companies. At the same time, Apple is defending itself in Luxembourg against similar European measures under the Digital Markets Act.
The European rules meanwhile lead to tensions in trade relations between Brussels and Washington. Former US President Trump previously labeled the digital laws as “anti-competitive” and “censorship.” Nevertheless, the Commission sticks to its position that digital platforms – like other companies – must be accountable for their business practices.