BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Chinese-owned brief video-sharing app TikTok has agreed to boost European Union customers’ rights, EU regulators stated on Tuesday, averting possible sanctions in a case sparked by a number of complaints from shopper teams within the bloc.
The European Consumer Organisation (BEUC) in its 2021 criticism stated TikTok, which has seen fast progress worldwide, significantly amongst youngsters, failed to shield kids from hidden promoting and inappropriate content material.
The firm subsequently held discussions with the European Commission and the nationwide community of shopper safety authorities in an try to resolve the considerations and now has agreed to quite a lot of adjustments, the EU government stated.
These embody permitting customers to report commercials and presents that would probably push or trick kids into buying items or providers.
Branded content material is not going to be allowed to promote inappropriate services, whereas influencers with greater than 10,000 followers could have their movies vetted by TikTok.
Among different commitments, the corporate will make clear how to get rewards from its platform, and paid commercials in movies will likely be labelled.
“All social media platforms are required to play by the principles and be sure that shoppers can simply determine business content material, together with when promoted by influencers,” Commission justice chief Didier Reynders stated in an announcement.
BEUC, nonetheless, stated TikTok’s supply fell brief in some areas.
“The influence of such commitments on shoppers stays extremely unsure. Despite over a 12 months 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.
(Reporting by Foo Yun Chee; Editing by Mark Potter)
