TikTok’s Minor Privacy Gap: EU’s DSA Crackdown Threatens 6% of Annual Revenue—Here’s the Compliance Endgame

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By: Elena Rostova

TikTok’s failure to shield minor accounts from adult viewers isn’t just a user safety crisis. It’s a critical test of the European Union’s Digital Services Act (DSA) enforcement muscle. For months, Brussels has targeted Big Tech giants like Meta and Apple, imposing fines and demanding overhauls to their privacy and content policies. Now, TikTok stands in the crosshairs, with millions of underage EU users at risk of cyberbullying, unwanted contact, and predatory behavior. The stakes are high for both the platform and the EU’s regulatory agenda. If TikTok escapes meaningful consequences, the DSA’s credibility could take a hit. If it faces harsh penalties, other platforms will have to rethink their own minor protection practices.

The European Commission laid out its findings clearly on Friday. It found TikTok allowed adults to view minors’ accounts, exposing kids to avoidable harm. Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier didn’t mince words. He said children’s content should never be visible to strangers. He pointed to specific flaws in TikTok’s system: 13-15 year olds can easily switch their accounts from private to public with just a few taps. Private accounts of 16-17 year olds are visible to anyone online, regardless of whether they follow the minor. The commission’s data paints a stark picture. Most of TikTok’s 170 million EU users are children. Seven percent of 12-15 year olds spend four to five hours daily on the app, increasing their exposure to risk. This isn’t the first strike against TikTok. In February, the EU flagged its addictive design features—like autoplay and infinite scrolling—as harmful to minors’ physical and mental health. TikTok now has a window to defend itself and respond to the findings. If the commission rejects its response, it could issue a non-compliance decision and fine the company up to 6% of its total annual revenue. TikTok’s parent company ByteDance, based in Beijing, released a statement saying it will review the findings and engage constructively with the commission. It noted protecting minors online is a shared goal and highlighted its track record of continuous improvement.

Compliance isn’t optional for TikTok here. The DSA doesn’t care about cosmetic fixes or vague promises—it demands effective default settings for minors. TikTok will have to overhaul its account privacy controls to lock down minor profiles by default, making it far harder for teens to switch to public visibility. It will also need to ensure private accounts for 16-17 year olds are truly private, accessible only to approved contacts. If it drags its feet or offers half-measures, the financial hit could be significant. 6% of annual revenue isn’t a trivial sum for a company valued in the hundreds of billions. Beyond the fine, non-compliance would damage TikTok’s reputation in the EU, its largest Western market, potentially leading to user backlash and regulatory scrutiny in other regions. This crackdown also sends a clear message to other social media platforms. The EU isn’t backing down on DSA rules. Any platform that cuts corners on minor privacy will face consequences, from fines to mandatory policy overhauls. TikTok will likely prioritize fixing these gaps quickly to avoid the penalty. This will set a new benchmark for minor protection across global social media, forcing competitors to follow suit or face similar regulatory action.

Author bio: Elena Rostova, a public policy expert specializing in compliance assessments for governments and sovereign wealth funds.