TikTok Faces Major EU Fines Over DSA Compliance Failures

TikTok is facing significant regulatory pressure from the European Union as authorities push forward with investigations into the platform’s compliance with Digital Services Act (DSA) requirements. The social media giant is accused of implementing restrictive procedures that limit researchers’ access to public data and failing to provide adequate advertising transparency tools. These enforcement actions come as EU regulators continue to scrutinize major tech platforms for regulatory compliance.

Regulatory Violations and Past Penalties

The EU provisionally concluded in May that TikTok breached DSA rules by failing to provide an ad library allowing proper scrutiny of online advertising. EU regulators are now advancing this investigation, which could result in substantial fines and enforcement of new operational requirements. In May 2025, TikTok was already fined $600 million by Ireland’s Data Protection Commissioner for failing to protect user information that was being transferred to China for processing.

TikTok’s Response and Calls for Reform

TikTok has criticized the EU’s enforcement approach, arguing that inconsistent application of rules creates an unfair playing field for larger platforms. The company contends that all online services should face proportionate scrutiny based on their specific risks rather than targeted restrictions. TikTok advocates for a centralized EU enforcement authority to ensure consistent application of regulations across all digital platforms, claiming that coordinated enforcement strategies would better support compliance efforts across the region.

The platform’s appeals underscore broader industry concerns about evolving European digital regulations, though experts remain skeptical that such arguments will prevent additional fines from EU authorities.