The European Union has preliminarily determined that TikTok's recommendation mechanism violates the Digital Services Act

According to Caixin, the European Commission preliminarily determined on November 6 local time that TikTok's recommendation mechanism has a "rabbit hole effect," making it increasingly difficult for users to disengage, which violates the Digital Services Act (DSA). Furthermore, TikTok's existing mitigation measures are deemed ineffective. The EU believes TikTok should adjust its "For You" algorithm to include more content based on users' explicitly expressed preferences, eliminate viewing duration as a recommendation metric, and enhance the usability of user control features.

If confirmed as a violation, TikTok could face fines of up to 6% of its global annual revenue. TikTok denies the allegations, stating that the EU's claims are fundamentally untrue. This conclusion is a preliminary determination and not a final penalty decision, and TikTok has the right to defend itself.