TikTok and YouTube need to provide more information on how young people are protected on the social media platforms, the European Commission said on Thursday.
The commission issued an official request for information on Thursday on the basis of the new EU law on digital services.
TikTok and YouTube are now obliged to explain by the end of the month what measures they are taking to protect minors, including their physical and mental health.
Depending on the information provided by the companies, the commission could decide to initiate proceedings and subsequently impose fines.
TikTok had already received an enquiry almost three weeks ago to provide information on fake news and hate speech circulation on the platform in connection with the war in Gaza.
A representative of the company emphasized at a meeting in Brussels on Tuesday that millions of posts had been removed since Hamas attacked Israel on October 7.
Under the EU's new Digital Services Act, platforms such as Facebook, X, Google and others have to take tougher action against illegal content such as hate speech and incitement to online hatred. Otherwise they could face hefty fines.
