2023-08-05 18:08:26
The European Commission will have partially won its fight against the giant TikTok. The Chinese social network, which has more than a billion users worldwide, announced on Friday that it would change the way automatic content display works to comply with new European Union rules.
At the end of August, the law on digital services – the Digital service act (DSA) – is due to come into force, which enacts reinforced rules on data confidentiality, protection of children, as well as on disinformation and hate speech. . Several points on which the video platform has been repeatedly singled out in recent months, in Europe or elsewhere.
Concretely, TikTok will allow European users to deactivate personalized content recommendations, the result of a complex algorithm which made the success of the social network, but which is also criticized for its addictive aspect, particularly among the youngest.
More transparency
Internet users will be able to consult, instead of these recommendations, popular videos in their region or around the world, according to a press release from the company, which belongs to the Chinese company ByteDance. TikTok will also facilitate the process of reporting illegal content, and ban targeted for young people aged 13 to 17.
In July, the European Commissioner for Digital Thierry Breton had expressly asked TikTok to “accelerate” on the regulation of content. “At the end of August, we will assess whether real and tangible changes have been made,” he warned.
“We will not only continue to meet our regulatory obligations, but we will also strive to set new standards through innovative solutions,” TikTok said, assuring that the company will be more transparent in the future on the moderation of comments. contents.
For several months, the social network has been trying to show its credentials to Western authorities, especially in Europe. In addition, the brand is regularly accused of highlighting hateful or even illegal content to a young audience, but also of serving the interests of China, its native country, in terms of espionage.
Many states have recently decided to ban the platform on the professional phones of their agents, France in the lead, for fear that confidential data will be processed in China. Charges on which TikTok assured work and reaffirmed its independence.
With AFP
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