Consumer protection: European Commission and national consumer protection authorities launch dialogue with TikTok

The European Commission and the network of national consumer authorities (CPC) have launched a formal dialogue with TikTok to review its commercial practices and policy. This follows an alert by the European Consumer Organisation (BEUC) earlier this year about TikTok's breaches of EU consumer rights. Areas of specific concern include hidden marketing, aggressive advertising techniques targeted at children, and certain contractual terms in TikTok's policies that could be considered misleading and confusing for consumers. Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders said: “The current pandemic has further accelerated digitalization. This has brought new opportunities but it has also created new risks, in particular for vulnerable consumers. In the European Union, it is prohibited to target children and minors with disguised advertising such as banners in videos. The dialogue we are launching today should support TikTok in complying with EU rules to protect consumers.”

TikTok has a month to reply and engage with the Commission and CPC authorities, co-led by the Swedish Consumer Agency and the Irish Competition and Consumer Protection Commission. More information on how the Commission works with CPC authorities to investigate and tackle breaches of EU consumer law is available here.

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