TikTok's New Age-Detection Rollout Faces Regulatory Scrutiny Across Europe

TikTok is introducing a new age-detection technology in Europe to better identify and remove accounts of children under 13, amid regulatory pressure. The system, developed following a UK pilot, analyzes profile data and videos to predict age, with flagged accounts reviewed by moderators before potential removal.

TikTok is set to deploy age-detection technology across Europe in a bid to enhance its identification and removal of accounts belonging to children under 13, according to ByteDance representatives speaking to Reuters. This rollout comes as regulatory bodies emphasize the need for efficient age verification under strict data protection laws.

European countries like Australia and Denmark are already enforcing age restrictions on social media use. The European Parliament is advocating for similar age limits, and TikTok's UK pilot has already led to the removal of thousands of accounts flagged as belonging to users under 13.

As part of its regulatory navigation, TikTok will involve a mix of facial-age estimation and traditional ID verification. The company is gearing its technology specifically for Europe to ensure compliance with regional laws. TikTok continues to face challenges, including a lawsuit in Delaware linking dangerous content with underage viewers.

(With inputs from agencies.)