EU probes TikTok, YouTube over child protection, and Alibaba’s AliExpress over consumer protection

The European Union (EU) has started investigations into TikTok and YouTube. They want to know if these platforms are keeping kids safe. The EU sent official requests for information to find out if TikTok and YouTube are following the Digital Services Act (DSA). This new law is part of the EU's plan to control big tech companies and make sure they stop illegal and harmful content from spreading. Companies that break the rules could be fined up to 6% of their global sales. nnTikTok, which is owned by the Chinese company ByteDance, is used a lot by young people. YouTube is owned by Alphabet, the same company that owns Google. They need to reply to the EU by November 30. The EU's main tech person, Thierry Breton, said that protecting children online is a top priority. The DSA also says that companies can't show targeted ads to kids under 18. nnThe EU is also investigating AliExpress for selling illegal items online. The DSA started to apply to big online platforms in August, and smaller companies will have to follow it starting next year. TikTok and YouTube are on a list of services that have to meet even stricter rules under another law called the Digital Markets Act (DMA) by March 2024.