European Commission Defends TikTok and Meta Investigations Under the Digital Services Act, Rejects Claims of Regulatory Confusion
At today’s European Commission midday press briefing in Brussels (October 27, 2025), spokespersons Paula Pinho and Thomas Regnier addressed questions about the Commission’s preliminary findings against TikTok and Meta under the Digital Services Act (DSA) — following Friday’s publication of two key decisions regarding the companies’ compliance obligations.
Regnier confirmed that both platforms are under investigation for failing to provide researchers with effective access to public data on their services, including Facebook and Instagram in Meta’s case. He described this as a core requirement under the DSA, meant to ensure transparency and accountability in how large online platforms operate.
In response to TikTok’s public statement urging regulators to “clarify obligations” under the Digital Services Act (DSA) and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) — and to “reconcile” both legal frameworks — Regnier firmly rejected the suggestion that there is confusion between the two EU laws.
“We believe that the DSA is very clear, also on potential overlaps with the GDPR,” he stated. “Our position on that front is extremely clear.”
He emphasized that companies have the right to defend their case in writing to the Commission, not through public statements. “We are always open to exchanges with platforms, including TikTok, but the right of defense should be exercised formally,” he added.
Paula Pinho, responding to a journalist’s procedural remark about Friday press releases being difficult to cover without immediate Q&A access, acknowledged the concern and encouraged media representatives to reach out directly to the Commission’s press service whenever midday briefings are not scheduled following major announcements.
The DSA investigations into TikTok and Meta are part of the EU’s broader enforcement push since the law took full effect in early 2024. The Digital Services Act aims to make online platforms more transparent, safer, and accountable, requiring large platforms to open certain data sets to independent researchers studying systemic risks such as misinformation, harmful content, and algorithmic amplification.
If the preliminary findings are confirmed, both companies could face binding decisions and potential fines for noncompliance — up to 6% of their global annual turnover, as permitted under the DSA.
Today’s briefing reaffirmed the EU’s stance that digital platforms must operate under uniform and predictable rules, and that public accountability cannot be negotiated through press statements, but through lawful cooperation with regulators.
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