The European Union, also known as the EU, has officially announced a second investigation into TikTok under the Digital Services Act. This comes after concerns that TikTok may be violating DSA laws by offering the TikTok Lite app in France and Spain. As a Very Large Online Platform, TikTok is required to report on various risk management practices and identify risks every time a new feature is introduced.
The EU specifically pointed out that the Task and Reward feature in TikTok Lite, which allows users to accumulate points by completing tasks such as watching videos, liking videos, and inviting friends, poses a risk of increasing user addiction to the app. Platforms must identify potential risks and outline plans to mitigate them as a result of the first investigation into age verification systems.
In response, TikTok representatives expressed disappointment with the EU’s decision to investigate, citing that the Reward system in TikTok Lite is not accessible to users under 18 and that the platform already limits daily video viewing time. The company will engage with the European Commission to discuss next steps.
The maximum penalty for violating DSA laws is set at 6% of global revenue in a single year.
TLDR: The EU is investigating TikTok for possible violations of the Digital Services Act, focusing on the Task and Reward feature in TikTok Lite and potential risks of user addiction. TikTok is in discussions with the European Commission regarding the investigation.
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