EU's Thierry Breton Urges Tiktok To Intensify Fight Against Disinformation: 'Spare No Effort To Protect Our Citizens'

The European Union’s industry chief, Thierry Breton, has asked TikTok CEO to leave no stone unturned in combating disinformation on the popular short video-sharing platform.

According to Reuters, Breton has previously set an Oct. 25 deadline for TikTok, owned by China’s ByteDance, to furnish details regarding its crisis response measures. He also demanded additional information by November 8 on how the company safeguards the integrity of elections and protects minors online.

The EU Commissioner noted recent changes on TikTok’s platform, including new features intended to safeguard users and investments in content moderation and trust and safety. However, whether these measures are sufficient to ensure compliance with the Digital Services Act (DSA) is under investigation.

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In a statement, Breton said, “Because now more than ever, we must spare no effort to protect our citizens – especially children and teenagers – against illegal content and disinformation.”

The DSA mandates large online platforms to take more action against illegal and harmful online content. This regulation is among many recent EU rules aimed at curbing the power of Big Tech.

TikTok Public Policy Director, Caroline Greer, expressed satisfaction that Breton acknowledged the company’s compliance efforts.

TikTok CEO, Shou Zi Chew, is slated to meet EU Vice-President for Values and Transparency, Vera Jourova, and EU antitrust head Didier Ryenders in Brussels on Tuesday.

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