“We know exactly the danger of TikTok.”
Von der Leyen appeared not in her capacity as Commission president in Maastricht, but as the lead candidate for the center-right European People’s Party – but the remark comes amid a string of bad news for TikTok in Europe.
Last week, TikTok decided to suspend a feature that rewarded users for their interactions with the TikTok Lite app, after the Commission began examining the feature under the bloc’s content moderation regulation, the Law on digital services (DSA).
TikTok faces a separate investigation – also under the DSA – for alleged failures to protect minors. Under the DSA, the Commission may in any case order the temporary suspension of a service as a last resort.
The other candidates present at the debate were more evasive. Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, head of the list of the liberal ALDE party, said we needed to see “what’s happening there” when talking about TikTok.
Von der Leyen herself is reportedly avoiding TikTok while campaigning for a second term.
TikTok did not respond to a request for comment in time for publication.
Politico
