EU Slaps Meta, TikTok With Digital Services Act Violation Charges

Major Platforms Face Regulatory Reckoning

The European Commission has taken formal action against two of the world’s largest social media platforms, charging both Meta and TikTok with violations under the EU’s sweeping Digital Services Act. According to regulatory findings, the companies failed to meet critical obligations around researcher data access and user protection systems that form the backbone of Europe’s digital governance framework.

This escalation represents Brussels’ most aggressive enforcement move yet under the DSA, which gives regulators unprecedented authority to oversee how major tech platforms operate within the single market. Sources familiar with the investigations indicate the charges focus heavily on transparency requirements designed to help researchers understand how social networks influence public discourse and spread misinformation.

The Core Allegations

Regulators allege that Meta‘s Facebook and Instagram platforms, along with TikTok, failed to provide researchers with meaningful access to platform data—a cornerstone requirement of the DSA meant to increase accountability. Meanwhile, Facebook and Instagram faced additional accusations related to user empowerment, with investigators claiming the platforms made it unnecessarily difficult for users to report illegal content or challenge moderation decisions.

Analysts following the case note that regulators specifically accused Meta of using deceptive design choices that obscure these options from users, effectively undermining the DSA’s user protection measures. “The interface design complaints suggest regulators are looking beyond technical compliance to how these systems actually function for everyday users,” observed one digital policy expert who requested anonymity due to ongoing consultations with the Commission.

Potential Financial Fallout

The stakes couldn’t be higher for both companies. If Meta and TikTok fail to convince regulators they’re in compliance, they could face fines of up to 6% of their global annual revenue—a potentially multibillion-euro penalty given their vast international earnings. For context, Meta reported $134.9 billion in revenue for 2023, suggesting maximum penalties could theoretically approach $8 billion.

Meta pushed back strongly against the accusations. “We disagree with any suggestion that we have breached the DSA, and we continue to negotiate” with the Commission, said Meta spokesperson Ben Walters in statements reviewed by multiple news outlets. He added that the company has “introduced changes to our content reporting options, appeals process and data access tools since the DSA came into force.”

Conflicting Regulatory Requirements?

TikTok, owned by China’s ByteDance, presented a more nuanced defense. Company spokesperson Paolo Ganino warned that the EU’s requirements “to ease data safeguards place the DSA and [General Data Protection Regulation] in direct tension,” adding, “If it is not possible to fully comply with both, we urge regulators to provide clarity on how these obligations should be reconciled.”

This argument highlights the complex regulatory landscape facing multinational tech companies operating in Europe, where the DSA’s transparency requirements sometimes appear to conflict with the GDPR’s strict data protection standards. Industry watchers suggest this tension could become a central point in any legal challenges that might emerge from these proceedings.

Broader Regulatory Context

These charges don’t exist in isolation. They’re part of a broader pattern of EU enforcement that has already seen similar proceedings against Elon Musk’s X (formerly Twitter) and scrutiny of Chinese e-commerce giants Temu and AliExpress. While none of these investigations have yet resulted in fines, they collectively signal the Commission’s growing assertiveness in regulating digital platforms.

The timing is particularly significant with major elections approaching in both Europe and the United States. Several parts of both Meta and TikTok investigations remain open, including inquiries into how the platforms protect minors, handle targeted advertising, and prevent election interference—issues that have taken on heightened importance in the current geopolitical climate.

Transatlantic Implications

Meanwhile, the legal battle underscores the widening transatlantic rift over digital regulation. The Trump administration has sharply criticized the DSA, labeling it “Orwellian” and an act of censorship against American companies. European officials counter that the law is essential to preserve transparency, fairness, and safety in the digital sphere.

As one Brussels-based policy analyst noted, “These cases represent a fundamental test of whether global tech giants will adapt their global systems to meet Europe’s regulatory standards, or whether we’ll see a fragmentation of the digital landscape along regional lines.” The outcomes could ultimately redefine how major platforms operate not just in Europe but potentially worldwide, as other regions look to the EU’s regulatory experiments as potential models.

With both companies now entering what could be lengthy negotiation and potential appeal processes, the tech world watches closely. The resolution of these cases may well determine whether Europe’s vision of digital governance becomes the global standard or remains a regional exception.