Paris: A TikTok criminal inquiry has been requested by Arthur Delaporte, a Socialist MP, who has referred the matter to the Paris public prosecutor.
Delaporte said that a six-month parliamentary inquiry into the app’s psychological effects on minors had shown that TikTok had endangered the lives of its young users.
The committee, co-chaired by Delaporte, heard testimony from families, social media executives and influencers. Delaporte said that TikTok executives denied knowledge of harmful content, an answer he argued could constitute perjury. The prosecutor will now decide whether to open a formal investigation into the video platform.
The inquiry followed a 2024 lawsuit filed by seven families accusing TikTok of exposing their children to harmful material, including content that pushed them towards ending their lives. The committee’s final report, described the platform as a ‘slow poison’ for children.
The report recommended that children under 15 should be banned from using social media entirely. For those aged between 15 and 18, it proposed a digital curfew preventing access. Lawmakers also called for a public information campaign and the creation of a new offence of “digital negligence” for parents who failed to supervise their children’s social media use.
Delaporte said that the recommendations were intended to start a broader social debate, stressing that the central issue was European regulation and how platforms could be forced to adjust their algorithms.
TikTok has rejected the findings. A spokesperson said that the commission’s report mischaracterised the platform, which they argued was being scapegoated for broader social challenges. The spokesperson added that TikTok maintained a trust and safety programme with over 70 features designed for young users and families.
French authorities have already debated wider restrictions on social media. President Emmanuel Macron’s office had indicated support for measures preventing children and young adolescents from using such platforms, echoing moves in Australia to prohibit access under the age of 16.
Families affected by the issue have spoken about the consequences. Géraldine, whose 18-year-old daughter ended her life last year, told Agence France-Presse that TikTok had amplified her child’s harmful impulses through exposure to self-harm content. She said that while her daughter was already vulnerable, TikTok failed to moderate content effectively.
The calls for a TikTok criminal inquiry highlight growing scrutiny of the platform’s responsibility for protecting minors across Europe.
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