Ireland Launches Investigations into TikTok and LinkedIn Over Content Moderation Concerns

DUBLIN, IRELAND – Ireland data privacy regulator, the Data Protection Commission (DPC), has announced the initiation of separate investigations into two major social platforms, TikTok and LinkedIn, citing concerns related to how the companies handle user requests regarding content moderation decisions.

The probes focus on whether the platforms are adequately complying with their obligations under the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Digital Services Act (DSA), specifically concerning the right of users to access their personal data and receive clear, detailed information about decisions made regarding their posted content.

TikTok Investigation Centers on User Rights

The investigation into TikTok is reportedly centered on complaints received by the DPC regarding the platform’s compliance with Article 15 of the GDPR, which guarantees data subjects the right to access their personal data and related information.

The DPC is examining whether TikTok is fully transparent and responsive when users request information about why their content was removed or moderated, and the underlying data used to reach those decisions.

A DPC spokesperson stated that the investigation seeks to determine if “TikTok has fulfilled its obligations under GDPR regarding the transparency and accessibility of personal data relating to content moderation decisions applied to user accounts.”

LinkedIn Probe Targets Content Moderation Transparency

Simultaneously, the Data Protection Commission has launched an inquiry into LinkedIn, focusing on similar issues of transparency and data access concerning content moderation.

LinkedIn, which often handles professional content and commentary, is being scrutinized to ensure that its users are provided with sufficient justification and access to relevant data when their posts or profiles are subject to moderation, removal, or restriction.

The probes reflect a growing regulatory scrutiny across the EU toward major technology platforms, ensuring that these companies, which hold vast amounts of user data and influence public discourse, are held accountable for adhering to EU data protection laws.

Compliance Under the Digital Services Act

While the investigations are rooted in GDPR compliance, the outcomes will also be closely watched in the context of the newly implemented Digital Services Act (DSA). The DSA imposes strict new rules on platforms to tackle illegal content, increase transparency, and ensure users have clear avenues for appeal regarding moderation decisions.

As the EU headquarters for both TikTok and LinkedIn, the results of the DPC’s investigations in Ireland will have significant ramifications for the operational and content moderation policies of these platforms across the entire European Union.

Both TikTok and LinkedIn have acknowledged the inquiries and have stated their commitment to cooperating fully with the DPC.