The European Commission has issued preliminary findings that Meta (owner of Facebook and Instagram) and TikTok are in violation of their obligations under the Digital Services Act (DSA), the EU’s landmark law for online platforms. (Reuters)
According to the Commission:
Meta’s platforms failed to provide clear, user-friendly mechanisms for users to flag illegal or harmful content (including child sexual-abuse material and terrorist content). They allegedly used “dark patterns” — deceptive interface designs — that discouraged or confused users from reporting. (The Verge)
Both Meta and TikTok are accused of not granting adequate access to researchers and public data sets needed to assess how the platforms impact users’ safety and rights. The Commission flagged “burdensome procedures” and “confusing” tools. (Reuters)
TikTok additionally warned that reconciling DSA transparency requirements with the EU’s data-protection law (General Data Protection Regulation – GDPR) poses a conflict. (AP News)
If the findings are confirmed, the companies could face fines of up to 6 % of their global annual turnover, amounting to potentially billions of euros. (Reuters)
Why it matters:
The DSA represents a major shift in how regulators hold large platforms accountable for content moderation, transparency and user safety. These findings indicate the EU is ready to enforce the rules on Big Tech.
For Meta and TikTok, this means heightened regulatory risk—not just inside Europe but globally as other jurisdictions watch. investor confidence, compliance costs and how they structure services in Europe may all be impacted.
The outcome could affect platform design: how users report harmful content, how appeals work, how data for research is shared, and how interfaces are structured (avoiding dark-patterns).
On a broader level, this signals that social-media companies cannot treat regulation passively—they must proactively shape compliance, transparency, and governance if they operate at scale.
Challenges & open questions:
These are preliminary findings, not final rulings; Meta and TikTok are allowed to respond and propose remedial actions. The final decision and penalty mechanism remain ahead. (Reuters)
Meta disputes the allegations, stating it has implemented changes to its content-reporting options, appeals processes and data-access tools since the DSA took effect. (The Guardian)
TikTok claims that some transparency requirements of the DSA may conflict with GDPR, raising legal complexity over whether full compliance is feasible under existing frameworks. (AP News)
The practical effect on users, creators and advertisers remains to be seen: will the platforms slow features, restructure, or face service changes in Europe?
There is a question of enforcement timelines: if the final penalty is delayed, how much operational disruption will occur in the meantime?
