TECH

EU Finds Violation in TikTok Recommendation System

Published: Nov. 9, 2026 12:45 p.m. GMT+8

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The European Commission has found that TikTok’s recommendation system violates the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA) by drawing users into potentially harmful loops showing similar content.

The preliminary findings, announced on Nov. 6 local time, could expose TikTok to a fine next year of up to 6% of its global annual revenue unless its parent, ByteDance Ltd., addresses the problem. TikTok denied the allegations.

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EU Commission preliminarily found TikTok’s recommendation system violates the DSA by creating harmful “rabbit hole” content loops.
TikTok could face a fine up to 6% of global annual revenue; it denied the allegations.
The DSA investigation began Feb 2024, with separate findings on addictive features and minors’ account safety.

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Who’s Who

TikTok: The European Commission preliminarily found TikTok’s recommendation system violates the EU’s Digital Services Act, creating a “rabbit hole effect” that may harm mental health. TikTok faces a potential fine of up to 6% of global revenue unless it fixes the issue. TikTok denied the allegations, calling the findings inaccurate.

ByteDance Ltd.: ByteDance Ltd. is the parent company of TikTok, which faces EU preliminary findings that its recommendation system violates the Digital Services Act. The commission cites a "rabbit hole effect" harming mental health. TikTok could face fines up to 6% of global revenue, though TikTok denies the allegations.

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What Happened When

Feb. 19, 2024：: The DSA investigation into TikTok began.

Feb. 6, 2026：: The commission issued separate preliminary findings identifying violations by TikTok involving potentially addictive features (infinite scrolling, autoplay, push notifications, highly personalized recommendations).

Jul. 24, 2026：: The commission preliminarily found that TikTok failed to meet safety standards for minors' accounts, allowing young users to make accounts public.

Nov. 6, 2026：: The European Commission announced preliminary findings that TikTok's recommendation system violates the EU's Digital Services Act (DSA).

2027：: TikTok could face a fine of up to 6% of its global annual revenue unless ByteDance Ltd. addresses the problem (based on the Nov. 6, 2026 preliminary findings).

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