Brussels announced a probe targeting the social media platform TikTok for its lapses in protecting minors, marking the second such procedure under the new European regulations after the one for platform X (formerly Twitter) that commenced in December.

The European Commission has initiated "an official procedure" to determine if TikTok, owned by the Chinese conglomerate ByteDance, has violated the Digital Services Act (DSA).

>>New EU Digital Services Act Takes Effect, Holds Major Online Platforms Accountable for Content<<

The European digital watchdog’s concerns particularly revolve around "the protection of minors," "transparency in advertising," "access to data for researchers," as well as the "risks associated with the addictive design of the platform" and "harmful content."

"As a platform that reaches millions of children and young people, TikTok has a special role to play in protecting minors on the Internet," which is "one of the major priorities of the DSA," stated European Commissioner for Internal Market Thierry Breton.

This "infringement procedure" is expected to enable the European Commission to ensure that TikTok takes necessary measures "to protect the physical and emotional well-being of young Europeans," he explained.

The DSA was fully implemented on Saturday, and the obligations it stipulates now apply to all internet platforms, under the threat of fines, to better protect users from illegal content.

"TikTok has pioneered features and settings to protect teenagers and keep those under 13 off the platform, an issue the entire industry faces. We will continue to work with experts and the industry to keep young people safe on TikTok and look forward to the opportunity we now have to detail this work to the Commission," emphasized the spokesperson of the social media platform.