Investigation Launched into TikTok's 'Harmful Content'

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TikTok is currently being scrutinized after accusations were made that harmful material is being disseminated on their app.

The Italian antitrust authority stated that they will launch an inquiry to check if the company has enough means to keep an eye on the material being circulated on their platform.

The reason for the inquiry was the popular "French scar" fad that has spread across the platform. According to reports, people are pinching their skin to create markings that resemble actual scars. Dermatologists warn that this behavior can cause lasting harm and must be avoided.

However, it seems to have a wider scope. The investigation will focus on whether it is able to identify and eliminate materials that violate its own guidelines, such as clips that encourage suicidal tendencies, self-inflicted harm, and unhealthy eating habits.

The watchdog agency stated that there are not enough proper methods for overseeing content created by outside sources, and the application goes against the set guidelines of TikTok which call for the elimination of harmful material.

The organization responsible for preventing unfair business practices is concerned about the use of AI methods that may excessively influence the behavior of people who use TikTok.

TikTok relies on AI to fuel its central feature called the "For You" feed. This function observes users while they browse through videos in order to display more content resembling the ones they enjoyed before.

The business tried to give more information about the process of selecting the content that appears on the feed as well as the technology behind it. However, the details are still kept private, and this resulted in concerns that it might promote harmful and hazardous materials.

The investigation concerns TikTok's Irish section that oversees customer relations in Europe, along with their British and Italian departments, according to a statement released by the regulatory body. The tax police of Italy also visited TikTok's Italian headquarters on Tuesday, the statement noted.

TikTok, which is currently under the ownership of ByteDance - a Chinese company, is set to endure stricter regulations due to increasing fears worldwide regarding the possibility of the Chinese government gaining access to users' contact and location data.

Italy made an announcement one day prior to TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew's appearance before Congress, which has raised speculations of a complete ban on the app in the US.

The organization did not reply to a inquiry seeking their input on the examination.