TikTok Content Moderation in Europe: External Help Brought In
TikTok Establishes European Safety Advisory Council
TikTok is bolstering its safety measures in Europe by enlisting the expertise of external specialists. These experts, drawn from fields like child safety, adolescent mental wellbeing, and extremism prevention, will form a Safety Advisory Council. This council is designed to enhance content moderation practices within the region.
Response to Regulatory Pressure and Safety Concerns
This initiative follows a recent intervention by Italy’s data protection authority in January. The authority mandated TikTok to restrict access for users whose ages could not be verified, following reports linking a young girl’s death to a dangerous online challenge on the platform.
Furthermore, TikTok has faced coordinated complaints from EU consumer protection agencies. These complaints, detailed in two reports released last month, allege violations of consumer protection and privacy regulations, with specific concerns raised regarding child safety.
Prioritizing Safety Through Expert Guidance
“We are continually evaluating and refining our features and policies, and actively pursuing innovative solutions to prioritize user safety,” TikTok stated today. This statement frames the council’s formation as a proactive step towards improving platform safety.
The Council will comprise leaders from European academia and civil society. Each member will contribute a unique perspective to address existing and emerging challenges. They will provide specialized knowledge to inform TikTok’s content moderation policies and procedures.
Building on Previous Advisory Efforts
This isn’t TikTok’s first venture into establishing advisory bodies. A U.S. Safety Advisory Council was announced a year prior, responding to scrutiny from U.S. lawmakers. Concerns centered on the spread of election disinformation and broader data security issues, including allegations of censorship influenced by the Chinese government.
Focus on Child Safety and Extremism
The initial appointments to TikTok’s European advisory body indicate a strong emphasis on child safety, youth mental health, and combating extremism and hate speech. This reflects the key areas of concern raised by European legislators, regulators, and civil society organizations.
Currently, nine individuals have been appointed to the European Council. Their expertise spans anti-bullying, youth mental health, digital parenting, online child sexual exploitation, extremism deradicalization, and anti-bias/discrimination. TikTok intends to expand the council with additional members from diverse backgrounds and areas of expertise.
Anticipating New EU Regulations
TikTok’s move also anticipates upcoming pan-EU regulations impacting platforms operating within the region. EU lawmakers have proposed legislation to increase accountability for digital service providers regarding the content they distribute and monetize.
The Digital Services Act
The Digital Services Act (DSA), currently undergoing the legislative process, will regulate how platforms handle illegal content, such as hate speech and child sexual exploitation.
While the DSA doesn’t specifically address broader harms like youth mental health – an area the U.K. is tackling with its Online Safety bill – it aims to enhance accountability across digital services.
Increased Data Transparency
The DSA includes provisions requiring larger platforms, including TikTok, to provide data to external researchers. This will enable independent studies on the societal impacts of these services. This increased transparency could lead to research highlighting potential negative impacts on user wellbeing, potentially resulting in negative publicity for the platforms.
Proactive Engagement with Civil Society
In anticipation of these oversight mechanisms, platforms are increasingly incentivized to engage with civil society organizations in Europe. This proactive approach allows them to anticipate and adapt to evolving regulatory expectations.
Consumer Association Response
Update: BEUC, the European consumer association involved in recent complaints against TikTok, provided a statement through its deputy DG, Ursula Pachl: “We encourage TikTok to seek expert advice on improving user protection, particularly for children. However, TikTok’s primary focus should be ensuring full compliance with EU and national laws.”
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