EU Warns TikTok to Redesign App or Pay Penalties Under DSA
The European Union has formally told TikTok to redesign its core app or face fines over concerns its features intentionally drive addictive behavior.
European regulators are intensifying scrutiny of how major social media platforms shape user behavior. TikTok now faces one of the most serious regulatory challenges in its history as the European Commission signals that the app’s design itself may violate digital safety laws.
The case could reshape how large platforms engineer engagement across Europe.
EU flags TikTok design under Digital Services Act review
The European Commission said on February 6 that TikTok may have breached the Digital Services Act due to what it described as the app’s addictive design.
According to Reuters, the preliminary ruling follows a year-long investigation into whether TikTok adequately assessed the risks to user well-being.
According to The Guardian, the Commission said TikTok failed to consider how features such as infinite-scroll autoplay, push notifications, and personalized recommendations could harm users, especially children and vulnerable adults.
Regulators said these mechanisms constantly reward users with new content, which can reduce self-control and encourage compulsive scrolling.
The Commission also said TikTok ignored warning signs, such as how long minors spend on the app at night and how frequently users reopen the platform, reported by The Guardian.
Regulators signal possible forced redesign of the app
EU officials said TikTok may need to change the basic design of its service to comply with the law. According to The Verge, suggested remedies include limiting or disabling infinite scroll over time, introducing effective screen time breaks, including overnight, and adapting the recommender system that pushes content to users.
Regulators also criticized TikTok’s existing safety tools. According to the report, screen time management features were described as too easy to dismiss, while parental controls were considered time-consuming and insufficient to reduce risks created by the app’s design.
If the preliminary findings are upheld, TikTok could face fines of up to 6 percent of its global annual turnover, along with mandatory design changes.
TikTok rejects findings as investigation continues
TikTok said it strongly disagrees with the Commission’s conclusions. A company spokesperson called the findings categorically false and meritless and said TikTok will challenge the decision through all available legal channels, per Reuters.
The company will now be allowed to respond formally before the investigation is concluded. According to the European Commission, the preliminary ruling does not prejudge the outcome.
As the EU continues its crackdown on large online platforms, the TikTok case signals a broader shift toward regulating not just content but the underlying design choices that shape how users engage with digital services.
