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French Lawmaker Seeks Criminal Probe Into TikTok Over Youth Safety

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A French parliamentary committee examining the psychological impact of TikTok on minors has concluded that the platform endangers the health and lives of young users. On Thursday, committee chair Arthur Delaporte announced he had formally asked the Paris public prosecutor to open a criminal investigation into TikTok.

Allegations Against TikTok

Delaporte, a Socialist lawmaker, accused TikTok of:

  • Deliberately endangering minors’ health and lives.

  • Possible active complicity in exposing children to harmful content.

  • Perjury, alleging TikTok executives misled lawmakers during hearings.

“It seems to me that there are offences of a criminal nature,” Delaporte told franceinfo.

TikTok’s Response

A TikTok spokesperson rejected the findings, calling them “misleading” and saying lawmakers were unfairly making the company a scapegoat. TikTok insisted it enforces strict policies to protect teenagers and their families, including dedicated safety features.

Background

  • The committee was formed in March 2024 following a lawsuit by seven families, who claimed TikTok exposed their children to content encouraging suicide.

  • The final report recommended:

    • Ban on social media use for children under 15.

    • Nighttime curfew (10 p.m. to 8 a.m.) for users aged 15–18.

Wider Scrutiny

TikTok, like other platforms, faces global pressure over child safety. Several countries in Europe, as well as Australia, are weighing restrictions on underage social media use.

French President Emmanuel Macron in June voiced support for an EU-wide ban on social media for under-15s, citing youth safety concerns after a fatal school stabbing.

The decision now rests with the Paris prosecutor, who will determine whether to pursue a formal criminal probe.

Meta and TikTok Win EU Court Challenge on Tech Fees, Regulators Must Recalculate

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Meta Platforms and TikTok secured a legal victory on Wednesday against the European Commission over the way EU regulators calculated supervisory fees under the Digital Services Act (DSA). The General Court in Luxembourg ruled that the methodology used to determine the fees was flawed and must be reworked.

Both companies had challenged the 0.05% levy on annual worldwide net income, arguing the system unfairly imposed disproportionate costs. The fee is intended to fund the EU’s monitoring of large platforms’ compliance with the DSA, which requires them to better police harmful and illegal online content.

Court Ruling

The judges said the fee calculation method should have been set under a delegated act, rather than through implementing decisions, giving regulators 12 months to fix the legal framework. Importantly, the court said fees already paid for 2023 will not be reimbursed.

Reactions

  • The European Commission said the ruling requires only a “formal correction” and that it will adopt a delegated act to formalize the methodology.

  • TikTok welcomed the decision, pledging to monitor the new process.

  • Meta emphasized that the current system unfairly burdens profitable companies while large loss-making platforms avoid payment, despite imposing heavy regulatory costs.

Wider Context

The DSA, which came into effect in November 2022, gives the EU sweeping oversight powers and allows fines of up to 6% of global turnover for non-compliance. Other major platforms subject to supervisory fees include Amazon, Apple, Google, Microsoft, Booking.com, X (formerly Twitter), Snapchat, and Pinterest.

The cases were filed under references T-55/24 (Meta Platforms Ireland v Commission) and T-58/24 (TikTok Technology v Commission).

Roblox Unveils Short-Form Video App, Boosts Developer Payouts

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Roblox announced Friday the launch of a short-form video app and a raise in creator earnings, as the gaming platform seeks to deepen engagement and expand beyond gameplay.

The new app, called “Roblox Moments”, is now in beta. Modeled after TikTok, it will allow users to capture, edit, and share clips of gameplay on a centralized platform. The move could redirect the billions of views Roblox-related content currently receives on YouTube and other sites back into Roblox’s ecosystem, amplifying engagement among its 111.8 million daily active users.

At its developer conference, CEO David Baszucki also announced an 8.5% increase in developer cash-out rates when converting in-game currency Robux into real money. The adjustment comes as Roblox leans harder into supporting its creator economy, which generated over $1 billion for developers in the past year, with more than 100 games surpassing $1 million annually.

Roblox has been evolving into a multifunctional platform—a space for gaming, socializing, advertising, and commerce. Earlier this year, it launched new advertising formats and struck a partnership with Google to grow its ad business and create additional revenue streams for creators.

By combining short-form content with more generous payouts, Roblox is positioning itself as both a creator-friendly platform and a competitor in the broader social media and entertainment space.