EU Regulators Allege Meta and TikTok Violate Digital Services Act Transparency Requirements

EU Commission Issues Preliminary Findings Against Tech Giants

The European Commission has determined that Meta Platforms and TikTok are potentially violating the Digital Services Act’s transparency requirements, according to official statements released today. Sources indicate the preliminary findings focus on inadequate data access for researchers and problematic content moderation systems across Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.

EU Commission Issues Preliminary Findings Against Tech Giants
Digital Services Act Compliance Under Scrutiny
Research Access Barriers Identified
Content Moderation Systems Criticized
Potential Financial Consequences
Broader Implications for Platform Regulation

Digital Services Act Compliance Under Scrutiny

The Digital Services Act establishes stringent requirements for platforms designated as “very large online platforms” serving more than 45 million monthly users in the European Union. The legislation mandates that companies provide researcher access to data that enables “public scrutiny into the potential impact of platforms on our physical and mental health,” according to the regulatory framework.

Research Access Barriers Identified

The Commission’s preliminary findings suggest that Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok may have implemented “burdensome procedures and tools for researchers to request access to public data,” the report states. Analysts suggest these limitations often result in researchers receiving partial or unreliable data, significantly impacting their ability to study whether users, including minors, encounter illegal or harmful content.

Content Moderation Systems Criticized

Regarding Meta’s platforms, the EU regulator identified multiple concerns with content reporting and appeal mechanisms. Sources indicate the process for reporting illegal content such as child sexual abuse material on Facebook and Instagram “seems to impose several unnecessary steps and additional demands on users.” Furthermore, the Commission found that content moderation appeals on both platforms reportedly make it difficult for users to provide supporting evidence for their cases., according to emerging trends

Potential Financial Consequences

Meta and TikTok now have the opportunity to respond to the EU Commission’s findings and implement service modifications to ensure DSA compliance. According to the analysis, failure to address these concerns could result in fines reaching up to 6% of each company’s total worldwide annual turnover. The Commission’s investigation continues as both companies prepare their formal responses.

Broader Implications for Platform Regulation

Industry analysts suggest these preliminary findings represent a significant test of the EU’s ability to enforce the Digital Services Act against major technology platforms. The outcome reportedly could establish important precedents for how very large online platforms balance transparency requirements with operational considerations across the European market.