EU Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton told TikTok’s CEO Shou Zi Chew that the platform needs to accelerate its efforts to comply with Europe’s new digital rulebook that will kick in in August.
Breton called on TikTok to speed up its compliance after a “stress test” was conducted at the company’s European headquarter in Dublin on Monday (17 July), the results of which were discussed between the Commissioner and the platform’s CEO on Tuesday.
Since the formal adoption of the Digital Services Act, the EU’s flagship legislation aiming to quash hate speech online, the 19 designated “very large online platforms” – including TikTok, Twitter and Facebook – will have to comply as of late August.
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The designated platforms are deemed to entail ‘systemic risks’ for society and will have to cope with strong requirements on matters of user empowerment, protection of minors, fight against disinformation, transparency and accountability.
To prepare for the August deadline, Breton has been conducting ‘stress tests’ at some of the platform’s premises. The stress tests cover child protection, recommender systems, content moderation, the fight against online illegal content, and transparency.
Twitter was the first up, in June – and now it was TikTok’s turn. Facebook is expected to be tested in the coming weeks.
The French Commissioner welcomed the fact that “TikTok voluntarily agreed to perform a stress test” and thanked the platform, which is used by more than 25% of the EU’s population, for “dedicating significant resources to compliance”.
However, in his briefing to TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew on the test results, he stressed that “more work is needed to be fully ready for the compliance deadline of 25 August”.
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“Now it is time to accelerate to be fully compliant; as of the end of August, we will be assessing whether real, tangible changes have materialised on the ground,” he said.
Breton warned on several occasions digital platforms that a lack of compliance could lead to significant consequences. Under the new digital rules, tech companies might face fines of up to 6% of their global turnover and even a complete ban in case of repeated offences.
He specifically warned Twitter several times, eventually saying that “if the technology is not ready [very large online companies] need to have enough resources to match the gap”.
In response to EURACTIV’s request for comment, TikTok referenced a tweet by Caroline Greer, the director of public policy and government relations at TikTok Ireland, where she stated that the company was “fully committed to implementing” the Digital Services Act.
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[Edited by Luca Bertuzzi/Nathalie Weatherald]
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