The European Commission has issued preliminary findings that TikTok’s personalized “For You” feed may breach the European Union’s Digital Services Act, saying the platform has not adequately assessed or reduced risks linked to repeated recommendations of similar videos. The findings are part of an ongoing regulatory process, not a final decision.

The Commission said the feed’s recommendation system can keep serving users content similar to videos they have watched or liked. Regulators highlighted the possibility that repeated exposure to material about topics such as body image, sadness or isolation could affect users’ well-being, particularly children and other vulnerable users. The Commission’s inquiry examines whether TikTok properly assessed those risks and whether its safeguards are effective.

Among the changes the Commission says may be needed are giving more weight to users’ stated preferences, making controls easier to find, and reducing reliance on viewing time when deciding what to recommend. The company has introduced measures including a “not interested” control, but the Commission’s preliminary assessment says existing steps have not sufficiently addressed the concerns.

TikTok will have an opportunity to respond before regulators reach a final conclusion. If the Commission ultimately finds a breach, the Digital Services Act allows penalties of up to 6% of a company’s annual worldwide turnover. That outcome is not predetermined by Friday’s preliminary findings.

The case is part of broader EU enforcement of the Digital Services Act, which requires large online platforms to assess and reduce systemic risks. It follows earlier Commission scrutiny of TikTok’s design features and protections for young users. The new findings focus specifically on how personalized recommendations can repeatedly direct people toward similar material.

For users, the central issue is how much control they have over a feed shaped by their viewing and interaction history. The Commission’s next steps will depend on TikTok’s response and whether regulators conclude that the platform’s assessment and safeguards meet the law’s requirements.

Sources: European Commission; Associated Press; Reuters.