The European Union expressed its worries regarding "harmful" content on Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube, urging these digital platforms on Wednesday to provide additional insights into their content recommendation processes.

The European Commission, which serves as the EU's influential digital regulator, stated that the three platforms are required to "offer more details about the design and operation of their recommender systems."

These algorithms are employed by the platforms to deliver more tailored content to users. The inquiry was initiated under the significant Digital Services Act (DSA), which mandates that platforms enhance user protection, particularly for minors.

The EU is requesting that YouTube and Snapchat supply "comprehensive information on the parameters utilized by their algorithms for content recommendations" and clarify how these algorithms contribute to "amplifying" specific systemic risks, including those affecting minors and mental health.

According to the DSA, platforms are obligated to address risks associated with such systems.

The Commission is also interested in understanding the measures that Snapchat and YouTube have implemented to reduce the impact of their algorithms on the proliferation of hate speech and illegal drug content.

In addition, the EU has called on TikTok to provide further details regarding actions taken "to prevent the manipulation of the service by malicious entities and to mitigate risks associated with elections, media pluralism, and civic discourse."

Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube are expected to comply with this request by November 15.

A senior EU official indicated that the Commission aims to ascertain "what types of controls" the platforms have established and "how effective these controls are," noting that regulators are seeking access to "numerous internal documents related to their testing processes."

This request marks an initial step in a potential compliance procedure, but it does not imply that any laws have been violated or that punitive measures are forthcoming.

The senior official mentioned that the EU is "acting on a suspicion" of non-compliance, while allowing the platforms the opportunity to implement changes that address the Commission's concerns.

Companies frequently adjust their practices following a request for information.

The EU is also examining content recommender systems as part of investigations initiated under the DSA concerning TikTok, AliExpress, Facebook, and Instagram.