The European Commission (EC) is intensifying its scrutiny of major social media platforms under the Digital Services Act (DSA), focusing on the algorithms that power content recommendations. 

YouTube, Snapchat, and TikTok have received requests for information about their recommender systems. Responses are due by November 15.

“Under the DSA, platforms have to assess and adequately mitigate risks stemming from their recommender systems, including risks for the mental health of users and the dissemination of harmful content arising from the engagement-based design of these algorithms,” the EC stated in a press release.

YouTube and Snapchat must provide detailed information on the parameters used by their algorithms to recommend content. The EC is particularly interested in how these systems might amplify systemic risks related to civic discourse, electoral processes, users’ mental well-being, and the protection of minors.

For TikTok, the focus is on measures adopted to prevent service manipulation by malicious actors and to mitigate risks to elections, media pluralism, and civic discourse that recommender systems may amplify.

This action is part of a broader effort by the Commission to enforce DSA compliance. The legislation categorizes platforms with at least 45 million monthly EU users as Very Large Online Platforms (VLOPs), subjecting them to more stringent regulations.

The Commission’s concerns extend to the potential role of AI in content recommendation.

Non-compliance with the information requests could lead to significant consequences. The Commission can impose fines for incorrect, incomplete, or misleading information.

This is not the first time these platforms have faced scrutiny under the DSA. 

Previous requests for information have addressed various issues, including child protection measures. TikTok, in particular, is already under a formal DSA probe regarding its TikTok Lite app’s reward program and its potential for addiction.

In late May, several European creator economy trade associations formed the European Influencer Marketing Alliance (EIMA) to promote responsible practices within the industry.