Ofcom, the UK's media regulator, has initiated a formal investigation into TikTok over its child safety provisions. The inquiry will scrutinise the video-sharing app's methods for determining a user's age and the effectiveness of its systems in preventing minors from encountering inappropriate or harmful content. This move underscores growing regulatory pressure on social media platforms to enhance protections for younger users.
The investigation follows a critical review published by Ofcom in May, which concluded that TikTok was not adequately safe for children and called for more robust measures to safeguard their online experience. A key area of concern for the regulator is TikTok's reliance on 'age inference' technology. This method attempts to estimate a user's age based on their behaviour on the platform, such as the types of videos they view or the accounts they interact with. Ofcom has expressed 'serious doubts' regarding the efficacy of such tools in accurately verifying ages, stating that platforms are required to employ 'highly effective' methods.
Kate Davies, Ofcom's group director for strategy and research, highlighted these concerns, noting that some age-checking methods currently in use by social media companies are not performing sufficiently. She emphasised Ofcom's specific questions about whether age inference can genuinely be considered 'highly effective' in meeting regulatory standards. This investigation also comes in the context of broader government initiatives, including an announcement that under-16s will be prohibited from accessing certain platforms.
In response to the investigation, a TikTok spokesperson asserted the company's confidence in meeting its obligations under the Online Safety Act and pledged to cooperate fully with Ofcom. The spokesperson also stated that TikTok strictly enforces age-appropriate experiences through expert-informed rules and advanced age inference technologies, aligning with major industry practices. They added that the company has invested 'billions' in online safety since its launch in the UK eight years ago.
This probe represents a significant step in Ofcom's efforts to ensure online platforms comply with the UK's evolving safety regulations. The outcome could set important precedents for how social media companies are expected to verify user ages and protect children across the digital landscape, potentially influencing technological development and content moderation strategies not just for TikTok, but for the wider industry.