The European Commission said on Friday it’s given the Chinese-owned video program TikTok a month to reply complaints from some European user group within its commercial clinics.
The EU’s executive arm said it’s begun talks involving the social networking platform and the federal consumer government after an alert established earlier this season from the European Consumer Organisation (BEUC) about alleged breaches of customers’ rights.
The Commission reported some contractual conditions in TikTok’s policies might be considered misleading and confusing to customers, including that concerns regarding issues including concealed advertising and marketing strategies targeting kids were increased.
TikTok is hugely popular with teens and young adults using it to watch and post short-form videos.
In February, the BEUC registered a complaint with the European Commission along with the community of consumer protection police contrary to TikTok. It contended that many terms in TikTok’s’Conditions of Service’ are unfair and stated that the platform failed to safeguard children and teens from concealed advertisements and possibly damaging content.
“It has brought new opportunities but it has also created new dangers, specifically for vulnerable customers. From the European Union, it’s illegal to target kids and minors with concealed advertising such as banner ads in movies. The dialogue we’re launching today should encourage TikTok in conjunction with EU guidelines to protect customers.”
TikTok stated it complies with all local regulations and laws regulating ads for young men and women.
“Further, users under 18 cannot purchase, receive or send digital presents, and we have strict policies prohibiting advertisements directly appealing to people below the age of electronic approval “