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The European Commission has issued preliminary findings that TikTok's For You algorithm creates a 'rabbit hole effect,' repeatedly pushing users toward content tied to sadness, isolation and body image, in violation of the Digital Services Act. Officials say TikTok's existing safeguards against this effect are not working. The company must redesign the feed or face fines of up to 6% of its global annual turnover.
The European Commission issued preliminary findings accusing TikTok of breaching the DSA because its For You recommendation system can trap users in 'rabbit holes' of repetitive content tied to sadness, isolation or body image. The Commission said TikTok failed to properly assess or mitigate these risks, noting that the 'not interested' button may not meaningfully change a user's feed. TikTok disputed the findings as inaccurate, while the case stems from a broader ongoing EU investigation into the platform.
The European Commission said preliminary findings show TikTok's recommendation algorithm creates a 'rabbit hole effect,' repeatedly exposing users to content tied to sadness, isolation, or body image. The Commission says TikTok's existing mitigation controls are insufficient and the platform must redesign its For You feed or risk fines up to 6 percent of global annual turnover.
Greece has enacted a law prohibiting children under 15 from using social media platforms, effective January 1, 2027. The law mandates platforms adopt reliable age-verification systems and requires parents to use government-approved apps to enforce access restrictions, with penalties tied to the EU's Digital Services Act for noncompliance. Prime Minister Mitsotakis pushed the bill through using his parliamentary majority over objections from minority parties.
Greece's parliament has approved legislation prohibiting children under 15 from using platforms like TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and X, set to take effect January 1, 2027. The law requires platforms to implement age-verification systems, with parents using state-backed apps called Kids Wallet or Gov.gr to block access on their children's devices. Non-compliant platforms face fines under the EU's Digital Services Act.
The US Department of Justice filed to intervene in X's and Elon Musk's appeal against a €120 million fine the European Commission imposed last December for violating the Digital Services Act. Assistant attorney general Brett Shumate said the Commission had overstepped its authority in targeting an American company, and the case will be heard at the EU's General Court in Luxembourg.
The US Department of Justice, working with the State Department, has filed to intervene in X's legal challenge against a €120 million EU fine at the General Court in Luxembourg. The penalty was issued in December after a two-year EU investigation concluded X misled users by labeling paid blue-checkmark accounts as 'verified.' The court will decide whether the US government may join the case.
The US Department of Justice has applied to the EU's General Court to intervene in Elon Musk's and X's legal challenge against a €120m EU fine issued in December 2025 over the platform's blue tick verification badges. The DOJ argues the European Commission overstepped its jurisdiction in applying the fine to an American company. The European Commission responded that it has a strong case based on X's alleged breach of the Digital Services Act.
The European Commission unveiled a plan to bar children under 13 from social media, allowing parent-supervised accounts for ages 13 to 15. To enforce this, Brussels has built its own free, open-source age-verification app, being piloted in Cyprus, Denmark, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy and Spain, with full EU rollout expected by end of 2026.
More than 30 members of the European Parliament have asked the European Commission to investigate whether Meta violated the Digital Services Act after accounts posting about Albania's anti-government 'Flamingo Revolution' protests were mass-suspended. The suspensions, traced largely to copyright complaints starting in late August, are suspected by researchers to stem from a coordinated brigading campaign rather than genuine infringement claims.
The European Commission classified ChatGPT as a Very Large Online Search Engine and Reddit and Roblox as Very Large Online Platforms after each surpassed 45 million average monthly EU users. This designation subjects all three to the Digital Services Act's toughest compliance requirements, joining 28 other services already under this heightened oversight.
The European Commission classified OpenAI's ChatGPT, Reddit, and Roblox as very large online platforms under the Digital Services Act after each surpassed 45 million monthly EU users. This status brings tougher requirements including removing illegal content and safeguarding minors' privacy and security, with a deadline of end of December to comply.