Brussels demands answers on launch of TikTok Lite in France, Spain
Tiktok - Photo by cottonbro on Pexels
(BRUSSELS) - The European Commission sent TikTok a request for information Wednesday for details on the risk assessment TikTok should have carried out before deploying the new app TikTok Lite in the EU.
The request for information under the EU's Digital Services Act (DSA) concerns the potential impact of TikTok's new 'Task and Reward Lite' programme on the protection of children, as well as on users' mental health, particularly in relation to the potential stimulation of addictive behaviour.
The Commission is also requesting information about the measures the platform has put in place to mitigate such systemic risks.
TikTok now needs to provide the risk assessment for TikTok Lite within 24 hours, and the other requested information by 26 April 2024, after which the Commission says it will analyse TikTok's reply, and then assess its next steps.
It is stressed that a request for information is an investigatory act and does not prejudge potential further steps that the Commission may or may not decide to take.
However, pursuant to the DSA's Article 74 (2), the Commission is able to impose fines for incorrect, incomplete, or misleading information in response to a request for information.
TikTok Lite is a new app with a new functionality aimed at users aged 18+: the "Reward Program", which allows users to earn points while performing certain “tasks” on TikTok, such as watching videos, liking content, following creators, inviting friends to join TikTok, etc.
The points can be exchanged for rewards, such as Amazon vouchers, gift cards via PayPal or TikTok's coins currency that can be spent on tipping creators. TikTok Lite was launched in France and Spain in April 2024.
In February this year, the Commission opened formal proceedings against TikTok to assess whether TikTok may have breached the DSA in areas linked to the protection of minors, advertising transparency, data access for researchers, as well as the risk management of addictive design and harmful content. The Commission says it continues to gather further evidence.
Digital Services Act - guide