Ireland's digital watchdog has initiated a formal investigation into two major social media giants, TikTok and LinkedIn, over concerns they are not complying with stringent European Union regulations on illegal online content.
What the Investigation is About
The probe, announced on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, by Ireland's Digital Services Commissioner, John Evans, focuses on the platforms' mechanisms for users to report illegal material. The regulator suspects that the reporting systems on both TikTok and LinkedIn are not easy to access or user-friendly.
More critically, the investigation will examine if these systems fail to allow for anonymous reporting of child sexual abuse material. Commissioner Evans also raised concerns that the design of the platforms' interfaces might actively discourage users from flagging content they believe is illegal.
Potential Consequences Under the DSA
These alleged shortcomings represent a potential failure to comply with the EU's Digital Services Act (DSA), a landmark piece of legislation that came into force in December 2023. The DSA imposes stricter obligations on large tech platforms operating within the European Union.
If found guilty of non-compliance, both companies face significant financial penalties. Fines could reach up to six percent of their global annual turnover, a substantial sum given the size of the parent companies, ByteDance (TikTok) and Microsoft (LinkedIn).
Ireland's Role as a Tech Hub Regulator
While the European Commission oversees the broad enforcement of the DSA, national regulators are tasked with policing platforms that have their European headquarters within their borders. Both TikTok and LinkedIn have their EU bases in Ireland, placing them under the jurisdiction of the Irish regulator.
This is not the first major probe launched by Dublin. On November 12, the same regulator opened an investigation into Elon Musk's social media platform, X, scrutinizing its content moderation practices.
A spokesperson for TikTok confirmed awareness of the new investigation, stating, "We are committed to keeping our platform safe and meeting our obligations under the DSA." The spokesperson added that the company would review the probe fully and engage with the regulator as needed. The outcome of this investigation could set a major precedent for how social media platforms design their safety and reporting features across the EU.
