The signature features of TikTok that have attracted users around the world are the algorithm and endless scrolling. Now, however, the European Union has called those aspects of the app that are illegal and may order the company to change them.

“Today, the European Commission has preliminarily found TikTok in violation of the Digital Services Act for its addictive design,” the EU regulator said in a press release. “It includes features like infinite scroll, autoplay, push notifications, and its most personalized recommendation system.” It said TikTok failed to put safeguards in place to ensure that “addictive” features do not “harm the physical and mental well-being of users,” including minors.

“For example, by constantly ‘rewarding’ users with new content, some aspects of TikTok’s design encourage continued scrolling and shift users’ brains into ‘autopilot mode.

TikTok’s current parental controls and features to limit screen time are not enough, the Commission added, and TikTok should change them. The platform may also be required to limit its infinite scroll and adjust its recommendation algorithms.

The EU Commission will give TikTok the chance to withdraw the findings and the company said it will use “any means available” to challenge them. “The commission’s preliminary findings present a factually incorrect and completely incompetent portrayal of our platform,” the company said. The New York Times in a statement.

Europe has opened its wide-ranging investigation against TikTok February 2024 and has already found the company flawed in its data sharing practices and transparency in advertising. If found guilty of violating the DSA, TikTok will face a fine of up to six percent of its annual worldwide turnover.