Key facts
- Some European Commission officials are pushing for an official presence on TikTok.
- The Commission banned TikTok from staff devices in 2023 over cybersecurity concerns.
- Officials argue that staying off TikTok cedes ground to foreign powers and limits reach to young Europeans.
- At least one commissioner is reportedly arguing for a rethink of the ban.
- The Commission is increasingly using YouTube for communication.
The European Commission is experiencing internal division over its decision to ban TikTok from staff devices and refrain from establishing an official presence on the platform. While the Commission banned TikTok in 2023 due to cybersecurity and data protection concerns, some officials argue this stance is a strategic mistake. They believe Brussels is ceding ground to foreign powers and failing to reach the approximately 200 million Europeans who use the platform, particularly younger demographics who increasingly get their news from social media.
Discussions about whether to establish an official account have occurred in high-level meetings, with at least one commissioner reportedly advocating for a reconsideration of the policy. However, there are indications that the current stance may not change, with Dana Spinant, the Commission’s director-general for communications, reportedly opposing an official account. Officials express frustration that the Commission is absent from a key platform while other actors, such as Russia, actively use social media to influence public opinion in Europe.
This debate occurs as President Ursula von der Leyen aims to increase the Commission's reach on social media. Ironically, the Commission is encouraging influencers, some of whom use TikTok, to communicate its messages, while refusing to have its own presence. As an alternative, the Commission is increasingly utilizing YouTube, where it has amassed over 500,000 subscribers.