EU Says Meta and TikTok Breach Data Transparency Rules Under Digital Services Act

The European Commission has accused Meta and TikTok of breaching key transparency and safety obligations under the European Union’s landmark Digital Services Act (DSA), according to preliminary findings released on Friday.

In a statement, the Commission said that both Meta — the parent company of Facebook and Instagram — and the Chinese-owned platform TikTok failed to provide researchers with adequate access to public data, a requirement under the DSA designed to ensure greater accountability of large online platforms.

The Commission also noted that Meta’s platforms do not appear to offer users a simple and accessible way to report illegal content, such as child sexual abuse material and terrorist content, raising concerns about the effectiveness of the company’s content moderation systems.

“The Commission’s preliminary findings show that Facebook, Instagram and TikTok may have put in place burdensome procedures and tools for researchers to request access to public data,” the EU executive said. “Allowing researchers access to platforms’ data is an essential transparency obligation under the DSA, as it provides public scrutiny into the potential impact of platforms on our physical and mental health.”

The Digital Services Act, which came into effect last year, imposes strict responsibilities on major online platforms and search engines operating in the EU. It requires them to take stronger action to curb the spread of illegal and harmful content, ensure transparency in their algorithms, and allow independent researchers to study their systems.

Regarding Meta, the Commission said the company’s current systems for users to flag illegal content include unnecessary steps and “deceptive interface designs” that can confuse or discourage users. “Such practices can be confusing and dissuading. Meta’s mechanisms to flag and remove illegal content may therefore be ineffective,” it added.

The EU executive emphasized that under the DSA, online platforms must maintain clear and efficient “Notice and Action” mechanisms that enable users to report content that may violate EU or national laws.

Both Meta and TikTok have been given the opportunity to review the Commission’s preliminary conclusions and take corrective measures. The EU stressed that these findings do not prejudge the final outcome of the ongoing investigation.

If the alleged breaches are confirmed, the Commission could impose fines of up to 6 percent of the companies’ annual global turnover — a penalty that could amount to billions of euros for the tech giants.

The move is part of the EU’s broader effort to hold Big Tech accountable for transparency and safety online, marking another step in Brussels’ tightening regulation of digital platforms operating in Europe.