TikTok’s attempts to prevent the EU from designating it as a “gatekeeper” (companies with sufficiently powerful platforms to comply with strict Digital Markets Act (DMA) antitrust rules) have been rejected by the courts. Bloomberg The EU’s General Court reportedly rejected ByteDance’s parent company’s request for provisional measures that would have actually bought TikTok more time to implement the rules, arguing that the company “failed to show that it urgency of need”.
Although TikTok is appealing the EU’s gatekeeper designation, the EU has yet to reach a final decision on the appeal. ByteDance asked for interim measures in December so that it would not have to comply with the regulations until the EU decided on the outcome of the appeal. Today’s decision rejects the request, meaning TikTok must at least temporarily comply with the DMA rules that came into effect in March, even if the EU later decides to grant the appeal.
“ByteDance has not proven that there is a real risk of leakage of confidential information or that such risk will cause serious and irreparable harm,” the judge said.
TikTok’s status as a gatekeeper means the platform will join other big tech companies such as Apple, Meta, Amazon and Google in making a series of changes for EU users, including allowing third-party businesses to access its services and requiring consent to serve personalized ads . It also means that TikTok and all other gatekeeper companies will be fined millions of euros if they breach DMA rules. (For complete coverage of Big Tech’s ongoing battle with the EU over the DMA, check out our StoryStream.)
“While we are disappointed with this decision, we look forward to hearing the merits of our case as soon as possible,” a TikTok spokesperson said. Bloomberg.
TikTok received more bad news from Europe on Friday, with the European Union launching a separate investigation into its content moderation rules targeting minors. Bloomberg Also reporting. A source familiar with the investigation told the Wall Street Journal that the investigation will be conducted under the European Union’s new Digital Services Act (DSA) due to concerns that the changes TikTok has made to comply with the DSA are not enough to protect underage users. news media.
Last year, TikTok made a series of changes to its EU users in direct response to the DSA’s requirements, including no longer serving personalized ads based on minors’ activity on the platform.