TikTok Faces Millions in Fines as EU Steps Up DSA Enforcement

So what’s really happening with that TikTok–U.S. ownership deal that President Trump greenlit — but China hasn’t yet signed off on? According to U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, everything is still moving forward as planned, and TikTok is on track to be transferred into U.S. ownership well before the latest enforcement deadline of the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act — which is currently set for December 16, following President Trump’s fourth executive order delaying its implementation. Speaking on CBS’ Face the Nation over the weekend, Bessent confirmed that U.S. and Chinese negotiators recently met in Madrid and reached an understanding on the framework of the deal. As he put it: “I believe that as of today, all the details are ironed out, and that will be for the two leaders to consummate that transaction on Thursday in Korea.” Bessent expressed confidence that the agreement has been finalized with Chinese officials — though he also admitted that the breakthrough came only in the past few days. That makes Trump’s earlier announcement, in which he declared the deal “done” last month, somewhat premature. After all, Trump approving his own negotiating team’s proposal doesn’t make the deal binding if Beijing hasn’t agreed. In effect, the former president’s announcement simply confirmed that he liked what his team had come up with — not that China had accepted it. Still, semantics aside, Bessent insists that the TikTok sell-off appears set to proceed, provided Chinese officials indeed follow through on what he believes is their tacit approval of the White House’s framework. That said, none of this is yet certain. Even Bessent’s own remarks hinted at lingering uncertainty, suggesting that U.S. negotiators are not in a position to formally declare victory. And from China’s side, the signals are even more ambiguous. After the U.S. imposed new tariffs on Chinese imports earlier this month, Chinese officials have sharply criticized Washington’s approach, accusing the U.S. of using “national security” as a pretext for protectionism. As China Daily reported: “In spite of the national treatment concept fervently promoted by the U.S. (and other Western economies), the U.S. administration tends to view any successful Chinese business as a ‘national security threat.’” Chinese authorities have framed this as an attempt to shield American companies from competition rather than a genuine security measure. In that context, insiders suggest that Beijing may demand broader concessions in exchange for approving the TikTok sale — potentially tying the issue to unrelated geopolitical matters, such as the U.S. position on Taiwan. That would be an extraordinary move, but not an inconceivable one, given how Beijing often links commercial negotiations to national sovereignty concerns. All of which means that a TikTok deal remains far from guaranteed. China remains firmly opposed to a forced divestment and is unlikely to rubber-stamp any agreement that appears to capitulate to U.S. pressure without significant reciprocal gains. That said, there are signs that TikTok itself may be preparing for a shift in ownership and operational alignment with the Trump administration’s demands. Recently, the platform updated its data-sharing policies to allow for more direct cooperation with U.S. authorities, including the potential for law enforcement agencies — such as ICE — to access user information for investigations. If implemented, that could mark the first step toward deeper integration with U.S. governmental oversight, potentially paving the way for a smoother transition under new ownership. And if that happens, users could see subtle changes in the tone and nature of TikTok’s U.S. content ecosystem — perhaps with more political or government-aligned narratives appearing over time. For now, though, it’s still a waiting game. The decisive moment will likely come later this week, when both sides meet again in Korea to finalize terms. Whether China agrees — and what it will ask in return — remains the biggest question hanging over what could be one of the most consequential tech deals in recent history. 📢 If you're interested in Facebook Ads Account, don't hesitate to connect with us!🔹 https://linktr.ee/Adshinepro💬 We're always ready to assist you!

While TikTok’s future in the U.S. remains uncertain, the platform is now finding itself entangled in yet another regulatory battle — this time with the European Union — as it faces a new wave of fines for failing to adequately control illegal content on its app. Late last week, EU regulators accused both TikTok and Meta of creating “burdensome procedures and tools for researchers to request access to public data,” effectively making it more difficult for watchdogs to scrutinize their platforms. According to The Financial Times, the EU had already moved closer to imposing penalties back in May, after provisionally determining that TikTok breached its rules by failing to maintain an ad library that allowed for proper oversight of online advertising. That investigation is now advancing, with the potential to result in hefty fines and stricter compliance obligations for TikTok moving forward. In response, TikTok has pushed back, arguing that the EU’s regulatory approach unfairly targets larger players while letting smaller platforms operate under looser oversight. The company stated: “To create a level-playing field and ensure consumers are protected wherever they go online, all online services not already subject to the DSA should also be required to take reasonable steps to assess and mitigate the risks of ‘persuasive design features’. This requirement should be proportionate to the specific risks posed by each online service, rather than ban certain design features as a whole.” Essentially, TikTok’s position is that inconsistent enforcement undermines consumer protection across the bloc. The company has even suggested the creation of a central EU enforcement authority to coordinate policy, manage cross-border cases, and ensure that digital laws are applied evenly across all platforms. “A more coordinated enforcement strategy and better collaboration with other relevant EU and national authorities (e.g., DSA and GDPR authorities) would support businesses in their ongoing compliance efforts,” the company added. TikTok’s broader argument is that it should not be penalized under what it sees as uneven regulatory enforcement, and that all platforms — regardless of their size or revenue — should face the same degree of scrutiny, based on their impact on users and public discourse. That’s not an unreasonable stance, but it’s unlikely to spare TikTok from another round of fines if EU regulators determine that the app has failed to meet transparency and compliance obligations. Europe’s tightening digital regulations have placed increasing pressure on all major tech platforms. TikTok has already been fined hundreds of millions of dollars for previous violations — including a $600 million penalty issued in May by the Irish Data Protection Commissioner for failing to protect user data, some of which was still being processed in China. Meta has faced similar fines, and given the scale and influence of both companies, EU authorities argue that these penalties are necessary to ensure meaningful compliance. Still, critics argue that the EU’s expanding data and content laws amount to a de facto digital services tax — one that allows European governments to extract billions from U.S.-based tech giants under the guise of regulation, rather than taxation. This sentiment helps explain why Meta has been engaging with the Trump administration to challenge such measures, and why TikTok is now advocating for regulatory reform — one that it says would apply more equitably across the entire digital ecosystem. Whether that argument gains any traction remains to be seen. For now, EU regulators show no signs of easing up, as they continue to investigate the broader impact of social media on user well-being — an inquiry that could add yet another layer of scrutiny for platforms like TikTok and Meta in the months ahead. 📢 If you're interested in Facebook Ads Account, don't hesitate to connect with us!🔹 https://linktr.ee/Adshinepro💬 We're always ready to assist you!

Facebook is introducing a new, more straightforward approach to building a business presence on its platform, by clearly separating ‘Company’ and ‘Creator’ profiles within the Page creation flow. As shown in these screenshots shared by app researcher Radu Oncescu, the updated interface simplifies the setup process by offering users two distinct paths — one for business pages and another for creator profiles. Until now, Facebook’s Page creation process primarily catered to businesses, while creators had to navigate an entirely different workflow to set up their professional accounts. Meta’s latest move aims to make this distinction clearer, helping users select the option that best fits their purpose — and ensuring that Pages are correctly categorized across the platform. That said, some confusion may still linger. Take, for example, an author — would they fall under the ‘creator’ category or be considered a ‘company’? Are professional profiles intended strictly for online creators, or do they also apply to artists, writers, and other individuals building a personal brand? These gray areas remain undefined, though this streamlined process should at least make it easier for users to choose appropriately and gain access to the right tools for their needs. Meta has been steadily refining how it classifies different types of accounts on Facebook. Last November, the company removed the option for personal profiles to have public followers — a move designed to further nudge users toward the correct account type, whether that’s a Page or a Professional Mode profile. The distinction matters. Choosing the right setup determines not only which tools and analytics you can access, but also how Meta’s algorithms promote your content. Creators are central to Meta’s ecosystem — and the company is keen to keep them invested by offering features that help them grow sustainable presences on its platforms. Businesses, on the other hand, are more often steered toward paid advertising, so the boundary between the two groups is strategically significant. Interestingly, this new separation raises the question of whether some brands might actually benefit from adopting a creator-style profile. For businesses with a strong personal face — say, a founder or employee with creator-level influence — that could be a more effective path for organic growth. Still, if Meta detects that a business is operating under the guise of a creator account, it’s likely to take corrective action quickly. Ultimately, this update reflects Meta’s ongoing effort to simplify, clarify, and properly categorize its ecosystem — making it easier for both businesses and creators to find their place, and helping Facebook maintain a more organized, purposeful structure in its ever-expanding app environment. 📢 If you're interested in Facebook Ads Account, don't hesitate to connect with us!🔹 https://linktr.ee/Adshinepro💬 We're always ready to assist you!