Mastodawn

Teodor Costachioiu Feb 8

European Commission

We've preliminary found that TikTok is in breach of the DSA for its addictive design.

There are important indicators of compulsive use of the app that TikTok has disregarded in its risk assessment.

Key features of the addictive design:
🔹Infinite scroll
🔹Autoplay
🔹Push notifications
🔹Highly personalised recommender system

We consider that TikTok needs to change the basic design of its service.

TikTok can now exercise its right to examine and reply to the finding.

https://link.europa.eu/9fTwmJ

@EUCommission Thank you. Next up: Insta.

European Commission Feb 6

Hello @axeln, META also falls under the category of "Very Large Online Platforms", which we supervise.
You can find an overview of all ongoing investigations for all these large companies here:
https://link.europa.eu/ngkJPH

Supervision of the designated very large online platforms and search engines under DSA

This page provides an overview of the designated Very Large Online Platforms (VLOPs) and Very Large Online Search Engines (VLOSEs) supervised by the Commission and the main enforcement activities.

Shaping Europe’s digital future

@EUCommission So how would this work with Loops? As that has infinite scrolling, autoplay, push notifications (coming soon), and there for you page is only getting better.

Does this mean Loops is at high risk too?

ikuturso 🇪🇺Feb 6

@sam @EUCommission I'm guessing they only look at platforms once they grow large enough, there are such limits for reporting requirements at least.

That said, I think it could make sense to eventually implement features that prevent people from becoming too addicted to Loops too.

The current Loops algo and the content the platform has probably isn't as finely tuned to be extremely addictive and there's no reason to make it be though.

@ikuturso @sam @EUCommission your guess is correct. most of the DSA applies only to platforms >45 million monthly active users: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Services_Act#Designation_of_VLOPs_and_VLOSEs So if the fediverse, including loops, actually stays federated, meaning not too many people use the same instance (or different instances run by the same operator), its structure makes it inherently exempt.

Digital Services Act - Wikipedia

@tehpw @EUCommission @ikuturso That is amazing, especially as if they are counting as only local users and not connected users through federation.

@sam @EUCommission @ikuturso I think adding all up would be hard to argue, because one instance operator doesn't have influence over the experience of other instances' users. (doesn't mean someone won't try and fail to make that argument at some point). I imagine the Commission would add up users if the same person or company runs multiple instances, which makes sense. Think: Meta opening multiple Threads instances, splitting the userbase & federating between them to avoid DSA rules.

@tehpw @EUCommission @ikuturso Tbh if Threads done that, it would make it a lot better of a push for full federation between the rest of things as I think they are still on a strange partial federation.

@sam @EUCommission @ikuturso
If it were clear to the userbase that they were on different instances, maybe ;-)

Threads does federate with other ActivityPub services afaik. I followed some Threads accounts when it first opened. It's just de-facto unfederated now cause many large non-corporate instances have since blocked them. I understand why. Meta has unceremoniously scrapped open protocols before (Facebook messenger had XMPP when it first started). So their commitment is unreliable at best.

En fri prins Feb 6

@EUCommission Please save us some taxpayer Euros and just ban the blasted thing! ;)

Leave X - Protect Democracy Feb 6

@EUCommission go, go, go!

https://gram.social/p/leavex/925373860645730520

#LeaveTikTok #DSA #EU

Leave X (@[email protected])

Via @[email protected] #BigTech #SocialMedia #JunkFood #Democracy #LeaveX

Pixelfed

grob (teeth era) 🇺🇦🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️Feb 6

@EUCommission I can't help the feeling the EU is finally waking up and prepared to throw its weight around.

European Commission Feb 6

Hi there, @grob!
The DSA has been in force since November 2022, and fully applicable since February 2024. Since then we have launched many investigations, made companies comply to our rules, and fined some.
You can find a comprehensive overview of other companies we are supervising here: https://link.europa.eu/ngkJPH

Supervision of the designated very large online platforms and search engines under DSA

This page provides an overview of the designated Very Large Online Platforms (VLOPs) and Very Large Online Search Engines (VLOSEs) supervised by the Commission and the main enforcement activities.

Shaping Europe’s digital future

grob (teeth era) 🇺🇦🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️Feb 6

@EUCommission 💪 keep it up! Rule of law is what I'm here for 🇪🇺

But please do not make client side scanning in any way part of that law. It is so dangerous! Imagine an autocracy had that kind of access to its citizens' data and thought.

tootbrute Feb 7

@EUCommission @grob "supervision" is ok but how a lot more prison sentences for CEOs, and more fines 😆

That is not the only problem. Consider this :

Ban TikTok , X and META!

@hyevans @EUCommission …and Alphabet. And Amazon. And Microslop. And OpenAI.

stux⚡️Feb 6

@EUCommission OR join our #FOSS alternative called #Loops!

https://vido.social/invite/a_019c0565-43b2-7142-a249-c4193ce9565dFNNtC5E

Vido

A creative community for sharing short videos and connecting with others.

@stux @EUCommission I don't think we need short-video platforms at all

The purpose of the very idea of a short video platform is to be addictive and detrimental to attention spans.

KuboF Hromoslav bio/acc 🧬Feb 6

@EUCommission @stux, well, when I check, even #Loops have infinite scroll and autoplay 🤔 As a free software and decentralized application, still better than TikTok, but done similar issues are there also 😕

Rusty Shackleford Feb 7

@kubofhromoslav @EUCommission @stux @dansup

Example of "For You" recommendation feed 'running out':

https://mastodon.social/@zewm/116024428066840202

@rusty__shackleford @kubofhromoslav @EUCommission @stux Interesting, they must have watched a lot, I will work on a fix (I didn't expect people to scroll that far tbh haha)

Kouki Matsumoto Feb 13

@stux @EUCommission loops is cool, but
1. No other instances for now
2. Basically just another addictive platform, just decentralized

stux⚡️Feb 13

@kouki21 @EUCommission There are! https://fedidb.com/software/loops

Kouki Matsumoto Feb 14

@stux @EUCommission thanks, well, thing wise as a video platform this can't fetch PeerTube

Faní Partsafyllidou Feb 6

@EUCommission Enough with international double standards, Instagram and TikTok are equally addictive, they just have different age groups. Enforce changes on both or none. Is there similar action towards Instagram?

Congrats though, it's a step towards the right path 💫 and setting an example for other countries 🌍

@EUCommission Great, now give them a fine that really hurts.

European Commission Feb 6

Hello @hans! First, TikTok now as the right to a written defence. After this, if a breach of the DSA is established, a fine can indeed be a consequence.
In a recent example, the company X was fined €120 million for breaching transparency obligations, including deceptive design practices and lack of transparency in its advertising repository.
You can learn more about how enforcement proceedings work here: https://link.europa.eu/3kC9Vg

The enforcement framework under the Digital Services Act

The enforcement of the Digital Services Act (DSA) includes a full set of investigative and sanctioning measures that can be taken by national authorities and the Commission.

Shaping Europe’s digital future

@EUCommission Thanks for the reaction 👍️

The €120 million for X doesn't mean a lot, that doesn't hurt. Small price to pay for spreading desinformation and influencing European elections. Eloon would pay that with a big smile on his face.

A fine of 6% of the annual global revenue would hurt, that's the type of fine that sends the message "we're serious".

Albert Cardona Feb 6

"Kids between 12 and 15 spend 4 to 5 hours daily on Tiktok."

140 million users in the European Union alone.

Tiktok sure is an abomination but one must ask as well why parents and grandparents are so busy that they can't properly engage with their own kids. The cost of living crisis made of Tiktok a convenient child minder. Same with Youtube, on that regard.

#Europe #EuropeanUnion #Tiktok

@albertcardona @EUCommission What part of addictive and manipulative flew past you? That’s what it does, capturing attention.

Albert Cardona Feb 6

@js @EUCommission

Preventing addiction requires continuous human contact – which was absent. The path to recovery from addiction requires continuous human contact – which is unclear where it will come from.

@albertcardona @EUCommission We can still look up from our broken screens and find there’s a world out there, with people in it.

Having that epiphany would not be the apocalypse it is made out to be.

@EUCommission - What an App to lose brain cells.

Martín Pescador 🌍🐝Feb 6

@EUCommission I think that most apps fall in this same category. Not only social networks but even newspapers.

@minfer @EUCommission Knowing Search Engines do, most likely newspapers, blogs and more might get into that category to, unless it only counts when it's interaction on the website directly.

Razvan Nicolescu Feb 6

@EUCommission So all social media, including Mastodon, should be banned too?

@RazvanNicolescu02 @EUCommission https://break3.social/notes/aiejgddc9ljk0tao

Paul (@[email protected])

@[email protected] @[email protected] @[email protected] your guess is correct. most of the DSA applies only to platforms >45 million monthly active users: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Services_Act#Designation_of_VLOPs_and_VLOSEs So if the fediverse, including loops, actually stays federated, meaning not too many people use the same instance (or different instances run by the same operator), its structure makes it inherently exempt. RE: @[email protected] @[email protected] I'm guessing they only look at platforms once they grow large enough, there are such limits for reporting requirements at least. That said, I think it could make sense to eventually implement features that prevent people from becoming too addicted to Loops too. The current Loops algo and the content the platform has probably isn't as finely tuned to be extremely addictive and there's no reason to make it be though. RE: ...

Break3 Social

Daniël de Kok Feb 6

@RazvanNicolescu02 @EUCommission Mastodon does not use an algoritmic timeline, nor does it optimize for keeping people hooked to the screen as long as possible. Big difference.

@EUCommission Errr... Mastodon has infinite scroll!

@EUCommission right move, only first three listed aspects are misleading, because practically every application with a news feed does the same thing. The recommender system and ignoring the parental controls on the other hand are plausible.

@EUCommission I preliminary found that the European Commission is focussing to much on petty issues instead of focussing on:

* A coherent energy & grid strategy
* The demographic collapse & lack of labor mobility
* A truly unified European capital market
* The erosion of democratic legitimacy through the judicial expansion.

The European Commission can now excercise its right to reply to me.

Afficionado Feb 6

@EUCommission Based on those wordings, I don't see the difference to Instagram, Facebook or Snap.

@EUCommission Those same indicators of addictive design are present when it comes to Youtube, Facebook and Insta as well. Why aren't fines being issued in that case? Just so you don't anger Trump? The DSA should be applied to every platform, american ones are not an exception!!

Hasan Adı Güzel Feb 6

@EUCommission other platforms are same. reddit,instagram,x all are designned to keep user as long as possible

EugenioLiberoBocca Feb 6

@EUCommission preliminarily*
Anyway wonderful news!

Mr. Lance E Sloan (IRL) 👤Feb 6

@EUCommission
#Mastodon also has those design features!

RalfMaximus Feb 6

@sloanlance @EUCommission

Autoplay? Where? Also there is no algorithm on mastodon. You are expected to curate your own experience.

KuboF Hromoslav bio/acc 🧬Feb 6

@EUCommission, financial fines are not enough. If a company is allowed to still operate in EU while just paying fines and being sued, it may just accept it as a business cost.

Instead, when company fails to comply with our laws, it must stop operations in EU. They have chance to comply, even several. If they are not capable of using them, they are threat to Europe and must be dealt as such.

Carl Kristensen Feb 6

ban Insta, TikTok and Youtube Shorts.

I can't come up with any good reasons we should let a foreign company have this level of control of europeans minds, specially youth.

And it's not about "free speech", this we get with a mastodon for example.

This is about giving the power to direct attention to whatever a foreign entity wants and thus control of public opinion.

Jörg Baranczek Feb 6

@EUCommission Leibe EU Kommision. Könnt ihr bitte was dagegen unternehmen das die Wirtschaft Druck auf die Politik ausüben. So was tut man nicht, das ist Nötigung .

Simply excellent conclusion… rolling out these sociological experiments untested for profit should simply be stopped. Rules and regulations is what we need.

Marcos Rodrigues Feb 6

@EUCommission dont forget about #youtube Shorts and #instagram Reels…

Jaida Corvera Feb 6

@EUCommission No shit. This has always been the plan for short-form video, as well as the shift with Social Media sites since '15. They are designed to addict, unlike the earlier forms, where you just had a profile and used it as a messaging service.

@EUCommission YouTube Shorts shpuld be the next target.

I hate opening one interesting short video, ended wasting 30 minutes of mindless scrolling.

@EUCommission
Very good to see our EU taking action! Glad to be part of it.

ExcelAnalytics Feb 6

@EUCommission
TikToxic