The European Commission finalizes the suspension of the new TikTok application, TikTok Lite, which pays its users to view and interact with content published on the platform. At the moment, France and Spain are the only European countries in which this type of program is available, which is aimed only at adults.
TikTok Lite is a program that allows users to accumulate points by discovering new content or performing certain actions. In addition, they can later redeem gift vouchers to spend on other shopping platforms such as Amazon or via PayPal, as well as to reward creators on TikTok.
From Brussels, it is being investigated whether the Chinese company is complying with its obligations of transparency and protection of minors in the development of this new application. In addition, the community services ask for explanations about the measures the company has taken to "mitigate these types of systemic risks", before deploying the new app in Europe.
This decision has been made because Brussels considers that the Chinese company is not complying with the new European rules for digital services. "We suspect that the TikTok Lite service is toxic and addictive, especially for children," declared the commissioner of Internal Market Thierry Breton through his social networks, to announce the suspension of the program.
However, the French liberal has given an ultimatum to the company, which could still present "convincing evidence of security" of the new app to avoid its suspension at the last moment. However, in his statement the commissioner has made it clear that he does not trust it because "they have not done it until now."
"We are willing to activate the provisional measures of the Digital Services Act (DSA), including the suspension of the rewards program," stressed Breton, who is also in charge of Telecommunications.
This announcement in turn coincides with the opening by the Community Executive of a sanctioning file against TikTok, since it did not respond to the risk assessment report within the indicated period. Last week, the European Commission gave the Chinese company 24 hours to deliver the requested resource.
According to community sources, this is the first file of these characteristics established by the European Union since the new laws for the digital sector came into force.
Likewise, they add that it is the first time that a large platform does not respond in any way to the information request. Taking into account that all large platforms are obliged to deliver this type of file, if they want to launch a new program in the community market.
In any case, the company has until April 26 to send more detailed information about the impact of the new program on the protection of minors and on the mental health of users. Especially regarding the danger of stimulating addictive behaviors.
The Commission, before making any decision, remembers that the formal request for information is a step within the investigation that does not prejudge the steps that may be taken later.
Even so, the community institution adds that it has the power to impose fines on companies that do not collaborate with the investigation. Either because they do not send the required information within the established deadlines or they send incorrect or distorted documentation.
Last February, the Community Executive already began a formal investigation to determine whether TikTok had violated the new European law on child protection, transparency, access to data and measures against addictive or harmful content.
