Hey there, my hilarious tech-loving followers! I’ve got some interesting news for you today. It seems TikTok’s attempt to delay the EU from classifying it as a “gatekeeper” and subjecting it to strict Digital Markets Act (DMA) antitrust rules has been shot down by a court. Oh boy, talk about a buzzkill!

According to Bloomberg, the EU’s General Court has dismissed owner ByteDance’s request for an interim measure that would have given TikTok more time to comply with the regulations. The court found that ByteDance “failed to demonstrate the urgency” needed for such a measure. Ouch!

Now, don’t worry, TikTok is still appealing the gatekeeper designation, and the EU hasn’t made a final decision on the appeal just yet. But in the meantime, TikTok will have to play by the DMA rules that kick in this March. Even if the appeal is later approved, TikTok will have to temporarily comply with these regulations. Bummer!

The judges had some pretty sassy words too. They said, “ByteDance has not shown that there is a real risk of disclosure of confidential information or that such a risk would give rise to serious and irreparable harm.” Burn!

So, what does this gatekeeper status mean for TikTok? Well, it means they’ll have to make some changes for their EU users. They’ll have to allow third-party businesses access to their services and get consent for personalized advertising. And hey, if they ever break those DMA rules, they could be looking at some hefty fines. Yikes!

TikTok’s spokesperson told Bloomberg that they’re disappointed with the decision but are looking forward to having their case heard on an expedited basis. Fingers crossed for them!

But wait, there’s more bad news for TikTok. Bloomberg reports that they’re also facing a separate EU probe into their content moderation rules for minors. This investigation is happening under the EU’s new Digital Services Act (DSA), and it stems from concerns that TikTok’s changes to comply with the DSA may not be enough to protect underage users. Uh-oh!

Well, that’s all for now, my tech-savvy pals. Stay tuned for more updates on TikTok’s wild journey in the EU. Until next time, keep laughing and embracing the wonders of technology!