The European Union has accused Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, and TikTok, owned by China’s ByteDance, of violating transparency obligations under the Digital Services Act (DSA), the bloc’s landmark regulation for online platforms.
The formal announcement came on Friday, October 24, 2025, with regulators warning that failure to comply could result in substantial financial penalties.
The DSA, which came into effect in 2023, requires major platforms to provide user-friendly reporting systems for illegal content, ensure transparency in content moderation, and grant researchers access to platform data to assess risks, including children’s exposure to harmful material.
The European Commission said Meta’s Facebook and Instagram platforms and TikTok have not provided adequate access to data for independent research.
The Commission also found that Meta employs “dark patterns”, interface designs that make it harder for users to flag illegal content or appeal moderation decisions.
A TikTok spokesperson said the company remains committed to transparency but highlighted potential conflicts between the DSA and the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
TikTok is reviewing the Commission’s findings and called on regulators to clarify how compliance with both frameworks can be achieved.
Meta rejected the allegations, stating that it has updated its reporting tools, appeals process, and researcher access since the DSA came into force.
The company confirmed ongoing discussions with EU regulators to ensure compliance.
The European Commission said both companies now have an opportunity to respond and propose corrective measures.
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If unsatisfied, the EU could impose fines of up to 6% of the companies’ global annual revenue per violation.
EU officials stressed that the DSA is intended to enhance accountability and protect users, not restrict free speech.
Thomas Regnier, EU digital policy spokesman, said the law empowers citizens to challenge unilateral moderation decisions while safeguarding against illegal content.
The preliminary investigations also examine how both platforms address the addictive nature of social media for minors and other compliance concerns, marking a significant enforcement of the DSA against Big Tech.