French legislators are urging state prosecutors to look into whether Tiktok is jeopardizing the safety of its younger users.
Socialist MP Arthur Delaporte leads a six-month investigation by the French Parliament into the psychological effects of Tiktok on minors, citing testimonies from families, social media leaders, and influencers.
He stated in an interview with French Fos: “The evidence is clear. Tiktok intentionally endangers the health and safety of its users, which is why we have brought this matter to the attention of Paris prosecutors.”
He added, “This may also represent perjury, especially when Tiktok executives claimed they were unaware of the situation.”
It will be up to the prosecutor to determine if an investigation should be initiated into the widely used short video platform.
The French Parliamentary Committee was created following the 2024 French lawsuit to assess Tiktok and its psychological effects.
The Final Report from the Parliamentary Committee, released on Thursday, described Tiktok as akin to “slow poison” for children. Laure Miller, a centrist MP co-leading the investigation, remarked that Tiktok is a “sea of harmful content” that algorithmically targets vulnerable children.
The report suggests that social media use should be entirely prohibited for those under 15 in France, and that a “digital curfew” should be imposed for users aged 15 to 18.
Additionally, it calls for a large public relations initiative aimed at “irresponsible parents” who fail to supervise their children’s social media activities, along with the creation of a new offense for “digital negligence.”
Delaporte emphasized that these recommendations aim to stimulate societal discussions. He stated, “The primary focus is on European regulations and how to compel platforms to modify their algorithms.”
A spokesperson for Tiktok responded, “We strongly refute the misleading claims from the platform committee that aims to blame us for broader industry challenges. Tiktok has over 70 features and settings tailored to support teenagers and their families.”
An executive from Tiktok, a subsidiary of the Chinese company Bytedance, informed the French parliamentary committee that the app employs AI-powered moderation, which last year successfully identified 98% of content violating its terms of service in France.
Emmanuel Macron’s administration has expressed interest in a ban on social media for children and young people, following Australia’s development of landmark legislation prohibiting access for individuals under 16.
Geraldine, whose 18-year-old daughter tragically took her own life, told Agence France-Presse that she discovered a self-harm video her daughter had posted on Tiktok after her passing.
“Tiktok didn’t cause our daughter’s death, but we hold Tiktok accountable for its inadequate online moderation, which plunged her deeper into her darker impulses.”
Agence France-Presse and Reuters contributed to this report
Source: www.theguardian.com
