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Summarised by Centrist
France’s investigation into TikTok for allegedly promoting suicide among young people is the latest sign of a broader shift toward state oversight of who can access social platforms and how.
Australia will soon ban people under 16 from setting up social media accounts, and Denmark and Norway are preparing similar laws restricting access for under-15s. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has said she is “watching Australia’s implementation closely” and will seek expert advice on adopting comparable measures in Europe.
The French inquiry into TikTok, announced on Nov. 4 by Paris prosecutors, stems from allegations that the app’s algorithm promotes self-harm and fails to protect minors. Convictions could carry penalties of up to 10 years in prison and fines of €1 million.
A TikTok spokesperson denied the accusations, saying the company “strongly refutes the allegations and legal grounds” and “will vigorously defend our record.”
The case follows a lawsuit filed by seven French families last year, two of whom lost children after exposure to harmful content. One mother, Stéphanie Mistre, said her daughter’s feed was filled with “tutorials and encouragement to go beyond mere suicide attempts.”
A parliamentary report published in September described TikTok’s recommendation system as a “hellish algorithm” that “locks children in a bubble”. It accused social networks of finding “a financial interest in endangering minors.” It called for a total ban on social media for under-15s and a “digital curfew” for those aged 15 to 18.
