TikTok Agrees to Boost EU Consumers’ Rights, Averts Possible Sanctions

Chinese-owned brief video-sharing app TikTok has agreed to enhance European Union customers’ rights, EU regulators stated on Tuesday, averting attainable sanctions in a case sparked by a number of complaints from client teams within the bloc.

The European Consumer Organisation (BEUC) in its 2021 grievance stated TikTok, which has seen fast progress worldwide, notably amongst youngsters, failed to defend youngsters from hidden promoting and inappropriate content material.

The firm subsequently held discussions with the European Commission and the nationwide community of client safety authorities in an try to resolve the considerations and now has agreed to a lot of adjustments, the EU government stated.

These embrace the introduction of a further choice permitting customers to simply report adverts that would doubtlessly encourage youngsters to purchase items or providers or persuade their mother and father or others to purchase them for them.

Branded content material is not going to be allowed to promote inappropriate services and products. Among different commitments, the corporate will make clear how to get rewards from its platform, and paid ads in movies might be extra clearly labelled.

“All social media platforms are required to play by the principles and ensure that shoppers can simply determine business content material, together with when promoted by influencers,” fee justice chief Didier Reynders said in an announcement.

TikTok stated it will proceed to enhance its options.

BEUC, nevertheless, stated TikTok’s supply fell brief in some areas.

“The impression of such commitments on shoppers stays extremely unsure. Despite over a yr of dialogue with TikTok, the investigation is now closed, leaving important considerations that we raised unaddressed,” BEUC Deputy Director General Ursula Pachl stated in an announcement.

© Thomson Reuters 2022