EU accuses TikTok of "addictive design" under new digital censorship law
By bellecarter // 2026-02-09
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  • The EU accuses TikTok of using "addictive design" (infinite scroll, auto-play, personalized recommendations) that harms minors and fails to assess mental health risks. Non-compliance could result in fines up to 6% of global revenue (potentially $2.1 billion).
  • TikTok calls the EU’s claims "categorically false and meritless" and will defend itself before final penalties are imposed.
  • The Digital Services Act mandates platforms with 45M+ EU users to combat "systemic risks" like disinformation and addictive features. Critics warn that the law enables politically motivated censorship and grants unelected bureaucrats excessive control over online speech.
  • Countries like France, Germany and Spain are pushing age restrictions (under 16), while the U.S. sues TikTok and Meta over youth mental health harms. Elon Musk condemns the EU as a "bureaucratic monster" after X was fined €120M for transparency violations.
  • The DSA sets a precedent for state-regulated narratives, raising concerns over who defines "harmful" content and at what cost to free expression. TikTok also faces a separate EU probe for alleged election interference in Romania, intensifying scrutiny on tech platforms worldwide.
The European Union has escalated its crackdown on Big Tech, accusing TikTok of employing an "addictive design" that harms users—particularly minors—while enforcing sweeping new censorship rules under the Digital Services Act (DSA). The Chinese-owned platform faces potential fines of up to 6% of its global revenue if it fails to comply, marking one of the most aggressive regulatory moves against social media to date. Critics warn, however, that the law's broad mandates risk stifling free speech and empowering unelected bureaucrats to dictate online discourse. In a preliminary decision announced Friday, Feb. 6, the European Commission (EC) claimed TikTok's algorithm-driven infinite scroll, auto-play videos and personalized recommendations push users into "autopilot mode," fostering compulsive behavior. The EC alleges the platform failed to assess risks to users' "physical and mental wellbeing," especially among children. TikTok, which boasts over 200 million European users, rejected the findings as "categorically false and entirely meritless." The company now has an opportunity to respond before final penalties are imposed. If found in violation, TikTok could owe billions—potentially up to $2.1 billion, based on estimated 2024 revenue. The DSA, which took full effect this year, requires platforms with over 45 million EU users to mitigate "systemic risks," including disinformation and addictive design, according to BrightU.AI's Enoch. While framed as consumer protection, skeptics argue that the law enables politically motivated censorship.

A global push for social media restrictions

The EU's action aligns with broader efforts worldwide to regulate—or outright ban—social media for younger users. Countries like France, Germany and Spain are considering restrictions for teens under 16, while U.S. lawsuits accuse TikTok, Meta and others of fueling youth mental health crises. A recent U.S. House Judiciary Committee report condemned the EU's approach as "the most aggressive censorship" in years, warning of overreach under the guise of combating "hate speech" and "disinformation." Elon Musk, whose platform X was fined €120 million ($140 million) last year for transparency violations, has called the EU a "bureaucratic monster" that "should be abolished." Meanwhile, TikTok faces a separate EC probe into alleged foreign interference in Romania's 2024 presidential election, where intelligence services claimed the platform boosted an anti-establishment candidate. TikTok denies manipulating electoral outcomes.

Free speech vs. "safety": A growing conflict

The DSA represents a pivotal shift in digital governance, granting regulators unprecedented power to dictate how platforms operate. Supporters argue it holds tech giants accountable, while critics warn of slippery slopes toward state-controlled narratives. Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez recently vowed to ban social media for under-16s and hold tech executives criminally liable for illicit content, declaring, "Social media has become a failed state." Such rhetoric underscores deepening tensions between open discourse and government oversight. The EU's stance has also strained transatlantic relations, with U.S. officials accusing Brussels of unfairly targeting American firms. Yet the TikTok case highlights that scrutiny extends beyond Silicon Valley—ByteDance, TikTok's parent company, recently restructured its U.S. operations amid bipartisan pressure over data security concerns. As the EU flexes its regulatory muscle, the TikTok case sets a precedent for how governments may reshape—or restrict—online spaces worldwide. While concerns over social media's impact are valid, the DSA's expansive reach raises critical questions: Who decides what constitutes "harmful" content? And at what cost to free expression? For now, TikTok remains in the crosshairs, but the broader battle over digital sovereignty is just beginning. Whether these measures protect users or entrench censorship will depend on transparency, accountability, and whether dissent is allowed a seat at the table. Watch the video below that talks about TikTok censoring everything. This video is from the alltheworldsastage channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

RT.com NYTimes.com BrightU.ai Brighteon.com
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