The European Union filed a lawsuit to stop ByteDance’s TikTok app’s recently launched TikTok Lite incentives programme.
TakeAway Points:
- The EU’s executive body, the European Commission, expressed concern that TikTok Lite’s “Task and Reward Programme” was introduced “without prior thorough consideration of the dangers it poses, in particular those related to the addictive nature of the platforms.”
- According to the EU, children are deemed to be in danger because it appears that TikTok lacks reliable age verification procedures.
- TikTok Lite software was released recently in France and Spain. Its functionality is targeted at users who are at least eighteen years old.
Eu’s Legal Action Against TikTok
The European Union initiated legal action against ByteDance’s TikTok on Monday and threatened to halt the app’s recently introduced TikTok Lite rewards system, in which users can accrue points for sharing content on the app with friends or enjoying it.
The EU’s executive body, the European Commission, threatened to punish TikTok if it did not provide a risk assessment report for TikTok Lite within 24 hours. May 3rd is when the social media app was supposed to deliver the additional requested data.
EU Concerns on TikTok Lite’s Task and Reward Program
The commission said it was concerned TikTok Lite’s “Task and Reward Program” had been launched “without prior diligent assessment of the risks it entails, in particular those related to the addictive effect of the platforms.”
According to the EU, children are believed to be at risk because it appears that TikTok lacks reliable age verification systems.
The investigation is the second official action the EU has taken against the social media giant. The European Union declared in February that it was looking into potential violations by TikTok of laws pertaining to advertising transparency, minor protection, and the control of dangerous content and addictive designs.
“Under the Digital Services Act, online platforms have the responsibility to assess and address any potential risks their users may face,” EU antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager said in a statement.
“So, the Commission has opened a compliance case that urges TikTok to submit an assessment and provide more information on how it is protecting its users from potential risks on their platform,” she added.
TikTok Lite
This month, a new software called TikTok Lite was released in France and Spain. Its functionality is targeted at users who are at least eighteen years old.
Users can earn points through the app’s rewards programme by following creators or watching videos, among other activities. After that, these points can be redeemed for incentives like Amazon gift cards.
Strict Regulations to Combat Illicit and Harmful Contents
Companies with more than 45 million average daily active users across the EU are classified as extremely large online platforms under the provisions of the broad Digital Services Act, and they are subject to strict regulations to combat illicit and harmful content on their platforms.
“Endless streams of short and fast-paced videos could be seen as fun, but also expose our children to risks of addiction, anxiety, depression, eating disorders, and low attention spans,” EU industry chief Thierry Breton said in a statement.
Breton further added that, “With our first DSA non-compliance case against TikTok still ongoing, the company has launched TikTok Lite which financially rewards extra screen time. We suspect TikTok ‘Lite’ could be as toxic and addictive as cigarettes ‘light.’”
“Unless TikTok provides compelling proof of its safety, which it has failed to do until now, we stand ready to trigger DSA interim measures, including the suspension of TikTok Lite feature, which we suspect could generate addiction.”
