TikTok Adapts to Meet EU’s Tough New Regulations
TikTok, the video-sharing platform, revealed on Friday that it has made adjustments to comply with stringent EU regulations, which include granting European users the ability to disable the addictive feature that displays content based on their personal interests.
In accordance with the new regulations, major internet companies, including TikTok, Amazon, Apple, Google, Meta, and Microsoft, are required to take stronger actions concerning data privacy, child protection, disinformation, and hate speech.
Potential Fines for Non-Compliance. TikTok Urged to Swiftly Implement New Standards by EU Commissioner.
These 19 major players on the web have until August 28 to comply; otherwise, they could face substantial fines. TikTok received a warning from the European commissioner responsible for overseeing the digital market, Thierry Breton, last month, urging the platform to hasten its adoption of the new standards.
In response, TikTok announced that it would allow European users to disable personalization, which refers to the “For You” feed that presents content recommendations based on individual interests. Instead, European users can opt to view popular videos from their local region and worldwide.
A Billion Users, Youth Appeal, and Scrutiny over Chinese Ties.
TikTok, known for its editing features and AI-powered algorithm, is particularly popular among younger audiences and boasts over a billion users. Nonetheless, its ties to China have drawn intense scrutiny in the Western world, although the company denies being under Beijing’s control.
To ensure compliance with the EU’s Digital Services Act, TikTok also implemented other measures, such as facilitating the reporting of illegal content by European users and prohibiting targeted advertising for users aged 13 to 17 in Europe.
The platform also committed to enhancing transparency around content moderation decisions, providing users with more information about the reasons for video takedowns.
”TikTok expressed its dedication not only to meeting regulatory obligations but also to establishing new standards through innovative solutions”.
Read the original article on Tech Xplore .
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