London – The regulators of the European Union accused Thursday of violating the rules of digital content because it is not transparent enough about the ads shown to the users of the application to share videos.
The Tiktok advertisement repository is not up to the standards required by the block Digital Services LawKnown as DSA, the EU Executive Commission of 27 nations said in preliminary conclusions of its investigation.
The commission said that the ads databases are vital for researchers detecting scam ads, as well as the so -called hybrid threat campaigns, coordinated information operations and false ads, “even in the context of the elections.”
The DSA is a broad rules book that aims to clean social media platforms and protect users from risks, including misinformation related to elections. The platforms must be transparent about digital ads, including informing users why they are shown a specific ad and who paid it.
The commission said that Tiktok does not provide necessary information about the content of the ads, the attacked users and who pays them. The database does not allow an integral search for ads based on this information, “thus limiting the usefulness of the tool,” he said.
Tiktok said he is reviewing the commission’s findings and remains committed to fulfilling his DSA obligations.
“While we support the objectives of the regulation and continue to improve our advertising transparency tools, we do not agree with some of the interpretations of the commission and we observe that guidance is being delivered through preliminary findings instead of clear public guidelines,” the company said in a statement.
The deficiencies of the advertisement database prevent a “complete inspection” of the risks posed by their advertisement orientation systems, said Henna Virkkunen, executive vice president of the Technological Sovereignty, Security and Democracy Sovereignty Commission.
“Transparency in online advertising, who pays and how they go to the public, is essential to safeguard public interest,” said Virkkunen. “Whether we are defending the integrity of our democratic elections, protecting public health or protecting consumers from scam ads, citizens have the right to know who is behind the messages they see.”
Tiktok now has the opportunity to respond before the commission issues its final decision, which could result in a fine of up to 6% of the company’s annual global income.
Tiktok is being examined in a Separate research from the EU In case he failed to face risks to Romania’s presidential elections, which was thrown out last year by accusations of electoral violations and Russian interference.
