French judicial authorities announced on Tuesday that they had launched an investigation into the Chinese social media platform TikTok, focusing on the potential dangers of its algorithms pushing young people towards suicide.
Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau stated that the probe was prompted by a request from a French parliamentary committee to open a criminal inquiry into TikTok’s possible role in endangering the lives of its young users.
The committee’s report raised concerns over the platform’s "insufficient moderation, its easy accessibility to minors, and its sophisticated algorithm, which could lead vulnerable individuals into a cycle of harmful content that may ultimately push them toward suicide."
TikTok did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The investigation, led by the Paris police cybercrime unit, will look into the offence of providing a platform for "propaganda promoting products, objects, or methods used for committing suicide," which is punishable by up to three years in prison. It will also explore whether TikTok facilitated "illegal transactions by an organised gang," a crime that carries a penalty of up to 10 years’ imprisonment and a fine of €1 million ($1.2 million).
The parliamentary report focused on the psychological impact TikTok has on young users, following a 2024 lawsuit filed by seven families accusing the platform of exposing their children to content that encouraged suicide. The committee’s chairman, on 11 September, claimed that TikTok "deliberately endangered the health and lives of its users" and subsequently referred the issue to the courts.
TikTok responded by rejecting the committee's portrayal, calling it misleading and asserting that it sought to scapegoat the company for wider societal and industry issues.
In addition to the parliamentary report, the prosecutor’s office noted a 2023 Senate report highlighting the platform's risks regarding freedom of expression, data collection, and problematic algorithms. It also cited a 2023 Amnesty International report warning that TikTok's algorithms are addictive and could lead to self-harm among young users.
Furthermore, a February 2025 report from French state agency Viginum, which monitors foreign digital interference, raised concerns about potential manipulation of public opinion, particularly in an electoral context.
Russian air attacks on major Ukrainian centres including Kyiv, Dnipro and Kharkiv killed at least five people and wounded dozens early on Tuesday, aut...
Kazakhstan is open to expanding its oil export routes through Azerbaijan and advancing joint energy infrastructure projects across the Caspian region,...
Russia's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova praised Georgia for resisting Western pressure (30 May), defending its national interests and pu...
More than 1,500 pages of government documents relating to Peter Mandelson's appointment and tenure as UK ambassador to the U.S. have been published, r...
As Armenia approaches parliamentary elections, Russia appears to be increasing political and economic pressure on Yerevan, signalling that closer inte...
Kazakhstan is open to expanding its oil export routes through Azerbaijan and advancing joint energy infrastructure projects across the Caspian region, Energy Minister Yerlan Akkenzhenov told AnewZ in an exclusive interview in Baku.
As Armenia approaches parliamentary elections, Russia appears to be increasing political and economic pressure on Yerevan, signalling that closer integration with the EU could lead to significant changes in labour, transport and energy arrangements between the two countries.
The International Labour Organization (ILO) has withdrawn the appointment of a senior U.S. official to a top leadership role because of delays in U.S. payments, according to a statement published on Monday (1 June).
Turkish authorities have launched an investigation into a passenger bus crash in southwestern Türkiye that killed eight people and injured 33 others over the weekend.
U.S. rapper Kanye West, now known as Ye, performed to a crowd of 118,000 people in Istanbul on Saturday night, marking his first concert in Europe in more than a decade, despite being barred from performing in several countries over past antisemitic remarks.
Okinawa lost transport links and suffered widespread power outages on Monday (1 June) as Severe Tropical Storm Jangmi brought destructive winds and heavy rain to Japan's south-western islands.
Donald Trump said he is “in no hurry” to reach a deal with Iran, insisting the U.S. is slowly getting what it wants. He warned military action remains an option if talks fail. Meanwhile, U.S. forces said they fired a missile at a vessel trying to breach Washington’s blockade of Iran.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has held talks with Lebanese President and Israeli Prime Minister on efforts to ease tensions between Israel and Lebanon. According to a U.S. official, Washington has proposed a plan aimed at achieving a gradual de-escalation of hostilities.
The World Health Organisation’s designation of the Bundibugyo Ebola virus outbreak as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) is a stark reminder that Ebola remains a persistent global health threat rather than a disease of the past.
The International Labour Organization (ILO) has begun its latest round of negotiations on creating the first binding global standards for platform-based work, covering services such as ride-hailing, food delivery and other app-based work.
European companies are continuing to deepen their presence in China, with nearly seven in ten firms maintaining or expanding their supply chains despite global efforts to diversify, according to a new survey by the EU Chamber of Commerce.
BP has removed its chair, Albert Manifold, with immediate effect, citing concerns over governance and conduct. The company said its board had unanimously decided that Manifold should no longer serve as chair or director.
The dual-class share structure outlined in SpaceX’s initial public offering (IPO) filing, which gives chief executive Elon Musk outsized control, has reignited one of Wall Street’s longest-running debates over corporate governance.
Kevin Warsh will be sworn in as chair of the U.S. Federal Reserve on Friday as policymakers consider higher interest rates to tackle inflation linked to the Trump administration’s Iran policy.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment