EU accuses TikTok of designing algorithm that creates ‘rabbit holes’

The European Commission has accused TikTok of violating its online platforms rules for having designed algorithms that lead users down so-called rabbit holes. The preliminary findings announced Friday mark the first time the Commission has focused on a social media platform’s recommender systems as a breach of its powerful Digital Services Act, under which it can issue fines up to 6% of a company’s annual global revenue.

“This is the first time that we are really tackling head-on the engagement-based recommender system model,” said one Commission official, who was granted speaking anonymity to speak freely. This is the fifth case of the EU executive accusing TikTok of breaching EU rules, even though it has issued no fines against the Chinese-owned platform.