The European Commission has presented preliminary findings in its Digital Services Act investigation of TikTok. Its central allegation is that recommendations on the For You page can keep vulnerable users in streams of personalised, distressing material, potentially worsening addiction risks and eating or anxiety disorders. This matters because Brussels is not merely describing a general platform risk: it is challenging a specific recommendation design.
According to the Commission, TikTok’s Not interested button does not sufficiently change a user’s feed. It has therefore instructed the platform to fundamentally alter the For You page. The algorithm should no longer be based primarily on how long a user watches a video, and users should have greater control over what they are shown. That goes to the operating logic of one of TikTok’s central product features.
The regulatory case has a clear basis. When a platform systematically steers attention into repeated content patterns, it should be able to show how users can get out of them. For material involving loneliness, sadness or body image, one rejection control is a weak safeguard if the wider recommendation system continues to optimise for watch time.
But the case is not settled. The findings are preliminary, and TikTok can contest them or address the Commission’s concerns through changes. The available reporting does not state a deadline for the requested changes or provide TikTok’s full response. Nor has a fine been imposed. If no resolution is reached, the Commission could formally find an infringement and impose a penalty of up to 6% of annual group turnover.
The concrete question now is whether TikTok will offer verifiable changes to its recommendation logic and meaningful feed controls, or whether the Commission will turn its preliminary assessment into a formal infringement decision and sanction.
Sources
- Tagesschau · Source date: 2026-11-06
- Der Spiegel · Source date: 2026-11-06
Independent editorial content. WUA is not affiliated with any political party. 2026-11-06