The European Commission has accused Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok of breaching key transparency obligations under the European Union’s Digital Services Act (DSA), a landmark law designed to hold tech giants accountable for online safety, data access, and content regulation.
In a statement released on Friday, the Commission said preliminary findings show that Meta Platforms — the parent company of Facebook and Instagram — and TikTok failed to provide user-friendly systems for reporting illegal content and limited independent researchers’ access to platform data. These lapses, according to the Commission, undermine the DSA’s core goal of creating a safer and more transparent online environment.
The European Commission alleged that Meta’s internal systems for flagging and removing illegal material, including child exploitation and terrorist content, were “ineffective” and complicated by deceptive interface designs, also known as “dark patterns.” Similarly, TikTok was faulted for placing burdensome restrictions on researcher data access, which the Commission says violates obligations for transparency and public accountability.
Both platforms now face potential fines of up to 6 percent of their global annual revenue if the violations are confirmed after due process. They have been invited to respond formally to the Commission’s findings before any sanctions are finalized.
Meta, in a swift reaction, disagreed with the accusations, insisting that it has made significant improvements to its content reporting tools and data transparency systems in line with EU requirements. TikTok also defended its position, arguing that some of the DSA obligations conflict with Europe’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which governs user privacy.
The DSA, which took effect in 2024 for very large online platforms with over 45 million EU users, mandates stricter controls on content moderation, user protection, and data sharing with vetted researchers. It also outlaws manipulative design patterns that could discourage users from reporting illegal or harmful material.
This latest action marks one of the most serious enforcement steps under the DSA since its adoption, and it follows similar probes into X (formerly Twitter) and Google over algorithmic transparency and online safety.
European digital chief Thierry Breton reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to full enforcement, saying, “The era of self-regulation for online platforms is over. The DSA gives us the tools to protect users, and we will use them.”
Experts say the outcome of this case could reshape global online governance, forcing major social media companies to adopt stricter transparency measures beyond Europe. The move could also influence regulatory discussions in regions like Africa, where governments are exploring ways to hold social media platforms accountable for harmful content and data misuse.
As investigations continue, Meta and TikTok’s responses will determine whether the EU pursues financial penalties or allows corrective commitments. Either way, the Commission’s stance sends a clear message: global tech giants will now have to play by the rules — or pay the price.