On November 6, 2026, the European Commission reportedly issued preliminary findings under the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), alleging that TikTok had failed to assess and mitigate risks from its recommendation system. The Commission’s reported concern centers on the For You feed: repeated recommendations of similar videos, including material about sadness, isolation or body image, could create recommendation loops, particularly for minors and vulnerable adults.
What the Commission says about TikTok’s recommendations
The concern is that watching one kind of video can lead to more of the same. The Commission reportedly warned that viewing time may influence recommendations even when a person has not actively signaled approval. It also raised concerns about videos on sensitive topics being recommended repeatedly.
The DSA is the EU law cited in the case for large platforms’ obligations around systemic risks. The Commission’s preliminary findings concern how TikTok assesses and addresses risks associated with its recommendation system.
The changes the Commission reportedly proposed
The Commission reportedly called for more weight to be given to users’ explicit preferences, more accessible and usable controls, and regular testing of the recommendation system. It also reportedly proposed that TikTok stop using viewing time as a recommendation signal.
The central design question is whether passive watch time should carry more weight than a user’s stated preference about what to see.
TikTok’s response and the next step
TikTok rejected the Commission’s characterization, saying it misrepresented the platform’s architecture and its commitment to user safety. The company also defended its safety record and the controls it gives users.
TikTok can review the Commission’s case file and submit a written response before a final decision. If an infringement is established, the Commission could seek a fine of up to 6% of ByteDance’s global annual turnover.
How the November findings differ from the February action
The earlier scrutiny covered a broader set of design features. In a February 6, 2026, report on an earlier preliminary action, Reuters described a year-long investigation and listed infinite scroll, autoplay, push notifications and personalized recommendations among the features under scrutiny.
The November findings focus more specifically on repeated similar recommendations in TikTok’s For You feed. Both sets of concerns were preliminary, with the later findings putting recommendation loops at the center.
