The TikTok tactic: opacity, addiction, and shadow play. Report by the Commission of Inquiry into the use of the social network TikTok, its data exploitation, and its influence strategy

Title (original language): La tactique TikTok : opacité, addiction et ombres chinoises. Rapport de la commission d'enquête sur l'utilisation du réseau social TikTok, son exploitation des données, sa stratégie d'influence

This report of the French Senate Commission of inquiry examined the security, algorithmic practices, and geopolitical implications of TikTok and its parent company, ByteDance. The report highlights a range of risks regarding user data protection, citing opaque corporate governance, potential data transfers to China, and legal obligations binding ByteDance to Chinese intelligence services. It highlighted TikTok’s addictive design features and inadequate content moderation, exposing minors to mental health risks, harmful trends, and disinformation. The commission recommends stronger regulatory enforcement, including potential platform suspension in France and the EU if TikTok fails to achieve data isolation, clarify ownership, and comply with European digital safety standards.

Methodology

The study was conducted by a formal French Senate Commission of Inquiry (Commission d'enquête) established in early 2023, chaired by Senator Mickaël Vallet with Senator Claude Malhuret serving as rapporteur.

Country or region of researched population

France

Citation

Malhuret, C. (2023). La tactique TikTok : opacité, addiction et ombres chinoises (Rapport n° 831, Tome I, 2022-2023). Sénat. https://www.senat.fr/rap/r22-831-1/r22-831-1.html

Record created:

29 July 2026

Go to publication
2023
The Commission was chaired by Senator Mickaël Vallet with Senator Claude Malhuret serving as rapporteur.
Report
French
research, policy and decision makers
BIK+ strategy pillar 1 - protection
addictive/manipulative design, data privacy
Machine translation used

Title (original language): La tactique TikTok : opacité, addiction et ombres chinoises. Rapport de la commission d'enquête sur l'utilisation du réseau social TikTok, son exploitation des données, sa stratégie d'influence

This report of the French Senate Commission of inquiry examined the security, algorithmic practices, and geopolitical implications of TikTok and its parent company, ByteDance. The report highlights a range of risks regarding user data protection, citing opaque corporate governance, potential data transfers to China, and legal obligations binding ByteDance to Chinese intelligence services. It highlighted TikTok’s addictive design features and inadequate content moderation, exposing minors to mental health risks, harmful trends, and disinformation. The commission recommends stronger regulatory enforcement, including potential platform suspension in France and the EU if TikTok fails to achieve data isolation, clarify ownership, and comply with European digital safety standards.

Methodology

The study was conducted by a formal French Senate Commission of Inquiry (Commission d'enquête) established in early 2023, chaired by Senator Mickaël Vallet with Senator Claude Malhuret serving as rapporteur.

Country or region of researched population

France

Citation

Malhuret, C. (2023). La tactique TikTok : opacité, addiction et ombres chinoises (Rapport n° 831, Tome I, 2022-2023). Sénat. https://www.senat.fr/rap/r22-831-1/r22-831-1.html

Record created:

29 July 2026

Go to publication
2023
The Commission was chaired by Senator Mickaël Vallet with Senator Claude Malhuret serving as rapporteur.
Report
French
research, policy and decision makers
BIK+ strategy pillar 1 - protection
addictive/manipulative design, data privacy
Machine translation used

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