Digital Detox Mandate: EU Charges TikTok Over “Autopilot” Design and Minor Safety Failures

The European Commission’s preliminary investigation concludes TikTok’s design—featuring infinite scroll, autoplay, pervasive notifications, and a granular recommendation engine—may contravene the EU Digital Services Act by fostering addictive behavior and inadequately protecting minors, potentially leading to fines up to 6% of global revenue and mandated design changes. TikTok disputes the findings as a mischaracterization and plans to challenge them legally.