A court has rejected TikTok's attempt to block the EU from designating it as a “gatekeeper” – companies with platforms powerful enough to follow strict antitrust rules under the Digital Markets Act (DMA). Bloomberg reports that the EU General Court dismissed owner ByteDance's request for an interim measure that would effectively give TikTok more time to implement the regulations, finding that the company “failed to demonstrate the urgency” required.
Although TikTok is appealing the EU guardian designation, the bloc has not yet reached a final decision on the appeal. ByteDance technology/tiktok-asks-eu-court-suspend-eu-gatekeeper-label-until-its-ruling-2023-12-01/”>requested a provisional measure in December so as not to have to comply with regulations before the EU decided the outcome of the appeal. Today's decision is a rejection of that request, meaning TikTok will have to at least temporarily comply with the DMA rules that come into effect in March, even if the EU later decides to approve the appeal.
“ByteDance has not demonstrated that there is a real risk of disclosure of confidential information or that such a risk would result in serious and irreparable harm,” the judges said.
TikTok's status as a gatekeeper means the platform will join other big tech companies such as Apple, Meta, Amazon and Google in making a number of changes for EU users, including allowing third-party companies to access its services and requiring consent for personalized advertising. It also means millions of euros in fines for TikTok and all other watchdog companies, if they ever break the DMA rules. (For a full account of Big tech's ongoing battle with the EU over the WFD, check out our StoryStream.)
“While we are disappointed with the decision, we hope the merits of our case will be heard quickly,” a TikTok spokesperson said. Bloomberg.
TikTok received more bad news from Europe on Friday in the form of a separate EU investigation into its content moderation rules for minors. Bloomberg is also reporting. The investigation, which will be carried out under the EU's new Digital Services Act (DSA), arose from concerns that the changes TikTok made to comply with the DSA are not enough to protect underage users. age, a source familiar with the investigation told the newspaper. media.
Last year, TikTok made a number of changes for its EU users directly in response to the DSA, including We no longer serve personalized ads depending on their activities on the platform to minors.
