European Union: European Commission issued preliminary findings that TikTok is violating Digital Services Act’s obligation to grant researchers adequate access to public data

On 24 October 2025, the European Commission preliminarily found TikTok in breach of its obligation under the Digital Services Act (DSA) to grant researchers adequate access to public data. The Commission noted that TikTok may have implemented burdensome procedures that result in partial or unreliable data, limiting researchers’ ability to study exposure to illegal or harmful content, including among minors. TikTok now has the opportunity to review the Commission’s investigation files and respond in writing, and the platform may take measures to address the identified issues. If the Commission’s findings are confirmed, TikTok could face a non-compliance decision, including fines of up to 6% of its total worldwide annual turnover and potential periodic penalty payments. The Commission noted that, starting 29 October 2025, the delegated act will grant researchers access to non-public data from very large platforms to improve accountability and identify potential risks.