EU court adviser recommends dismissing TikTok's challenge to gatekeeper ruling
Advocate General Andrea Biondi advised the EU Court of Justice to reject Bytedance's lawsuit against the Commission's designation of TikTok as a Digital Markets Act gatekeeper.
In a non-binding opinion, Advocate General Andrea Biondi urged the EU's top court to throw out Bytedance's legal action contesting the European Commission's gatekeeper label for TikTok under the Digital Markets Act. The recommendation follows the Commission's decision to subject the platform to strict obligations. Judges will consider the advice in the coming months, typically following most such opinions. The case is filed as C-627/24 P Bytedance v Commission.
Why it matters
The ruling will determine whether TikTok must comply with new EU competition rules that could reshape its operations in Europe.
How the sides frame it
MODERATE AGREEMENTBoth camps report the adviser’s opinion to dismiss TikTok’s challenge, but right-leaning coverage frames it as a win for regulators and highlights TikTok’s role as a major gateway and potential fines, while centrist coverage simply notes the recommendation without added emphasis.
CENTER
Centrist coverage presents the adviser’s non-binding opinion as a straightforward recommendation to reject TikTok’s legal challenge.
RIGHT
Right-leaning coverage casts the adviser’s opinion as support for regulators, stressing TikTok’s status as a significant gateway and the strict obligations and fines under the DMA.
The right emphasises
- the adviser supports regulators in labeling TikTok a DMA gatekeeper
- TikTok’s role as a significant gateway is affirmed despite users being on other platforms
- the ruling aligns TikTok with other gatekeepers and mentions fines up to 10% of global turnover
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