TikTok Lite Faces EU Scrutiny Over Rewards Program
In a recent development, Chinese social network TikTok has launched a new application called TikTok Lite in France and Spain. This new app allows users to earn points by watching videos, with users aged 18 or older eligible to collect points by discovering new content or completing specific actions.
However, the European Union has raised concerns about TikTok Lite’s rewards program, threatening to suspend it if certain conditions are not met. The EU has given TikTok 24 hours to provide a risk assessment report for TikTok Lite or face fines, with a deadline of May 3 to provide additional requested information.
The EU is particularly worried about the addictive nature of TikTok Lite’s “Task and Reward Program” and the absence of effective age verification mechanisms. This marks the second instance where the EU has taken formal action against TikTok, following an investigation in February related to the protection of minors, advertising transparency, as well as the management of addictive design and harmful content.
Margrethe Vestager, the EU antitrust chief, has stressed that online platforms like TikTok have a responsibility to assess and address potential risks for users. This concern has prompted the compliance case against TikTok, indicating the EU’s commitment to ensuring user safety and well-being in the digital space.
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