In recent news, the European Commission has expressed concerns about TikTok Lite, a new program launched by TikTok that rewards users for various activities. The program, which is available in France and Spain, allows users to earn points by watching videos, liking content, and inviting friends. These points can then be exchanged for rewards such as vouchers from Amazon and gift vouchers via Paypal. However, the Commission is worried about the potential impact on users’ mental health and addictive behavior.
As a result, the Commission has requested more information from TikTok about the risk assessment that should have been conducted before launching the program. If TikTok fails to provide this information by tomorrow, it may face a fine of up to 1 percent of its global annual turnover. In the meantime, the Commission has indicated that it may take TikTok Lite offline until a thorough security assessment has been carried out.
The lack of a prior risk assessment of TikTok Lite could be a violation of the new DSA Digital Services Act. As a major online platform with millions of users, TikTok falls under the direct supervision of the Commission. The Commission has always stated that it will enforce compliance with the law and take sanctions if necessary.
TikTok has until April 24 to provide arguments in its defense before the Commission makes a final decision on whether to take the program offline. If TikTok fails to conduct a risk assessment, it could have serious consequences for its operations in the European market. It remains to be seen what action the Commission will take next, but one thing is certain: TikTok will need to address these concerns if it wants to continue operating in Europe.
