The European Commission has put TikTok under scrutiny and has given it a 24-hour ultimatum to explain the risk assessment procedures behind its new application, TikTok Lite.
This version of TikTok offers rewards to users with the new program “Task and Reward Lite” for performing various actions, such as watching videos, liking or following other accounts. The rewards include Amazon vouchers, PayPal gift cards, or the app’s currency.
TikTok Lite, classified as appropriate for users over 12 years old in the Google Play Store, was recently launched in France and Spain after being released several years ago in China. However, its arrival did not go unnoticed by the European Commissioner for Internal Market, Thierry Breton, who questioned its addictive and toxic potential, comparing it to “light” cigarettes, and promised to protect minors through the EU Digital Services Act (DSA).
The European Commission aims to understand the potential impact of the new rewards program on the protection of minors and the mental health of users, and requests detailed information from TikTok about the measures taken to mitigate the possible systemic risks associated with it.
TikTok has committed to meeting the established deadline to provide the requested risk assessment and information (their cooperation would be motivated by the threat of colossal fines under the DSA).
The launch of TikTok Lite adds to the app’s problems in Europe, where it is already being investigated for transparency and protection of minors. In the United States, TikTok faces even greater problems, with a bill approved by the House of Representatives seeking its sale to a non-Chinese entity. This bill is currently stalled in the Senate, possibly to allow for agreements that would prevent the app from being banned in the country.
