The European Commission’s September proposal for an EU KIDS Act adds a wider child-safety initiative to the existing scrutiny of TikTok under the Digital Services Act. These are distinct processes: one proposes a broader framework, while the other concerns preliminary findings about a platform’s handling of minors’ accounts. Neither should be mistaken for a newly imposed TikTok fine.
In its 17 September announcement, the Commission describes proposed restrictions concerning children under 13 and a minimum age of 15 for minors to open an account independently. It also says providers would have to demonstrate that their services are age-appropriate and safe by design.
A proposal is separate from an enforcement finding
The Commission’s adoption of a legislative proposal is not the same as completion of the EU legislative process. Its proposed age framework therefore needs to be distinguished from obligations already enforceable under the DSA.
The July preliminary findings concerning TikTok focused on how minors’ content can become publicly visible and recommended to other users. The Commission said default settings and recommendation practices should provide stronger protection.
AP reported TikTok’s response that it would review the findings and engage constructively with the Commission. The report described a possible future non-compliance decision and financial penalty, rather than a fine already levied in that case.
Different questions about age and visibility
An age threshold concerns access to a service. Account privacy concerns who can see and encounter content once a young person uses it. Both can affect safety, but changing one does not automatically resolve the other.
The policy direction is towards stronger responsibility for platforms. The outcome of a specific investigation, and the eventual form of the proposed legislation, still need to be assessed on their own evidence and procedural stage.
