EU accuses TikTok of designing algorithm that creates ‘rabbit holes’

The European Commission has accused the popular video-sharing app TikTok of violating European Union rules by creating algorithms that lead users down "rabbit holes" of content, according to preliminary findings announced on Friday. This marks the first time the Commission has focused on a social media platform's recommender systems as a breach of its Digital Services Act, which can result in fines up to 6% of a company's global annual revenue.

"This is the first time that we are really tackling head-on the engagement-based recommender system model," said a Commission official. The investigation focused on the mental health impacts of these rabbit holes, as evidence was strongest in that area. The more users interact with potentially harmful content, the more of it they are recommended, the Commission stated.

TikTok has not effectively implemented measures to curb this effect, the officials said. The regulator recommends that platforms consider explicit signals for users to opt out of content, rather than relying on implicit engagement metrics. Only 0.2% of TikTok users currently select the option to receive a non-personalized feed. TikTok can now review the evidence, respond to the allegations, and propose a remediation plan acceptable to the regulator to avoid fines.

The Commission has previously accused TikTok of breaching EU rules on advertising transparency. TikTok did not respond to requests for comment.