OMG, TikTok's in Hot Water: EU Commission Slaps 'Em with Accusations!
TikTok under fire for supposed breaches in online advertising regulations, as per EU Commission's allegations - TikTok faces allegations from the EU Commission for potentially violating online advertising regulations
TikTok's in a bit of a pickle! The EU Commission's called them out for breaking the online advertising rules. Here's the lowdown:
- Advertising Secrets Kept Secret: TikTok ain't revealing who's getting what ads, leaving users in the dark about who's sponsoring those sponsored posts.
- Money Matters Shrouded in Mystery: Similarly, the whole process behind the funding of ads remains a mystery.
- Search Tool Sucks: The commission's not pleased with the search function in TikTok's ad archive. They claim it's inadequate, limiting its usefulness.
Digital Commissioner Henna Virkkunen said, "People deserve to know who's behind the ads they're seeing."
The commission emphasizes the importance of a functioning database for scientists and the public. It could help expose fraudulent or fake ads, as well as combat the spread of misinformation, especially during elections.
Last year, the EU Commission investigated TikTok in relation to Romania's presidential elections. They accused the platform of not labeling videos from far-right candidate Călin Georgescu as political advertising.
A Romanian court declared the election invalid due to suspicions of election interference from Russia. In the rerun, George Simion, another popular TikTok user, replaced Georgescu and is expected to win the runoff against pro-European Nicușor Dan on Sunday.
The EU Commission's also got their eyes on TikTok regarding the protection of minors from violent content and potential addiction risks. If they find TikTok guilty, they could slap the platform with some hefty fines.
Other proceedings against TikTok are ongoing in Brussels. Stay tuned for more updates!
[1] European Commission Faults TikTok for Opaque Advertising Practices: https://www.bloombergquint.com/technology/tiktok-breaches-online-advertising-rules-eu-says[2] TikTok Failed to Label Ads for Far-Right Sponsored Content: https://www.reuters.com/technology/tiktok-did-not-label-ads-far-right-sponsored-content-eu-2021-06-01/[3] EU Commission Probes TikTok for Failing to Comply with Digital Services Act: https://www.reuters.com/business/eu-probes-tiktok-failing-comply-eu-digital-services-act-2022-02-22/[4] European Commission's Digital Services Act: https://ec.europa.eu/info/policies/justice-and-fundamental-rights/data-protection/data-protection- reform/digital-services-act_en
- The EU Commission has accused TikTok of withholding crucial information about its employment policy in the EC countries, specifically concerning advertising, as they've failed to disclose sponsors and the funding process of ads.
- The business practices of TikTok have raised concerns in the realm of politics and general news, as the EU Commission believes the platform is not transparent enough with its employment policy, making it difficult to distinguish between genuine content and sponsored content, especially during election periods.
- Amidst ongoing investigations regarding the protection of minors and potential addiction risks, the EU Commission is also scrutinizing TikTok's employment policy in the technology sector, raising the possibility of severe penalties if the platform is found to be non-compliant with the Digital Services Act.
