TikTok’s ad database breaches EU platform rules, says Commission

TikTok’s advertizing repository is successful breach of nan EU’s online platforms rules, nan European Commission said connected Thursday pinch nan publication of preliminary findings successful its Digital Services Act (DSA) probe which it began successful February 2024.

Under nan DSA, very ample online platforms request to person specified an advertizing repository successful spot for researchers and civilian nine to observe scam advertisements and hybrid threat campaigns.

The Commission’s investigation recovered that video sharing app TikTok does not supply nan basal accusation astir nan contented of nan advertisements, nan users targeted by nan ads, and who paid for nan advertisements.

In addition, TikTok’s repository “does not let nan nationalist to hunt comprehensively for advertisements connected nan ground of this information, thereby limiting nan usefulness of nan tool,” nan Commission said successful a statement.

TikTok whitethorn now take sides itself by examining nan documents and replying successful writing. If nan Commission's preliminary views are confirmed, however, nan institution could look a good of up to 6% of its full worldwide yearly turnover.

A TikTok spokesperson said that nan institution is reviewing nan findings.

"While we support nan goals of nan regularisation and proceed to amended our advertisement transparency tools, we disagree pinch immoderate of nan Commission’s interpretations and statement that guidance is being delivered via preliminary findings alternatively than clear, nationalist guidelines," nan spokesperson said.

The DSA became applicable for nan largest online platforms astatine nan extremity of 2023, and for each different platforms successful February 2024. The EU executive has begun respective probes since. 

The February 2024 investigation into TikTok besides covered nan antagonistic effects stemming from nan creation of TikTok's algorithmic systems, property assurance, its responsibility to guarantee a precocious level of privacy, information and information for minors, and information entree for researchers, for which nan investigation continues.

In December, nan Commission began a probe against nan institution suspecting it of breaching nan DSA by not adequately mitigating risks linked to nan integrity of Romania's election. This is still pending.

None of nan different investigations, including those into X, Meta and AliExpress, person been wrapped up.

This communicative has been updated pinch a remark from TikTok.