EU flags TikTok’s algorithmic design as potentially illegal under Digital Services Act

European Union regulators have warned that TikTok may be in breach of the Digital Services Act (DSA) over features they describe as deliberately “addictive,” including infinite scroll, auto-play and its content recommendation algorithm.

In a preliminary ruling issued on Friday, the European Commission said TikTok’s core design encourages compulsive use and creates what it termed an “autopilot” effect, where users are continuously rewarded with new content, driving prolonged engagement.

“The basic design of the service needs to change,” the Commission said, adding that available data indicates widespread compulsive use of the platform.

TikTok, which has over one billion users globally and around 200 million in Europe, is accused of ignoring evidence showing risks of addictive behaviour. Regulators warned that the platform’s design could pose serious threats to the mental health and physical well-being of children and other vulnerable users.

The Commission stressed that the ruling is preliminary and does not prejudge the final outcome of its ongoing investigation, meaning no immediate enforcement action will follow at this stage.

TikTok rejected the findings and said it would challenge the decision, describing the Commission’s assessment as “categorically false and entirely meritless.”

The move comes as European authorities intensify enforcement of the Digital Services Act, passed in 2024 to improve online safety and transparency among digital platforms. Last year, X became the first company fined under the law, receiving a penalty of about $140 million for breaches related to transparency and advertising research restrictions.

TikTok has faced similar legal challenges in the United States, including lawsuits over alleged social media addiction. The company settled a California case linked to such claims last month.