EU threatens to suspend TikTok Lite app's 'addictive' rewards
The European Union's scrutiny of TikTok's Lite app marks a significant step in addressing child safety concerns and potential risks to users' mental health. Launched in March in France and Spain, TikTok Lite offers users aged 18 and above rewards for engaging with its content, prompting the European Commission to raise alarm over its addictive features.
The Commission's statement highlighted apprehensions regarding the app's impact on users, particularly minors, citing concerns about its potential to cause serious harm to mental well-being. Despite being a streamlined version of the popular TikTok app, designed to operate on slower internet connections and conserve memory, TikTok Lite's arrival has raised red flags.
TikTok's failure to submit a risk assessment for the Lite app by the April 18 deadline has escalated the situation, with the Commission demanding compliance by Tuesday. Failure to meet these requirements could result in the suspension of the rewards program within the European Union, pending a safety evaluation.
The EU's Digital Services Act (DSA) underscores the urgency of regulating digital platforms like TikTok. Thierry Breton, the EU's top tech enforcer, expressed concerns over TikTok Lite's potential addictive nature, drawing parallels to "light" cigarettes. Unless TikTok provides compelling evidence of the app's safety, interim measures under the DSA, including the suspension of TikTok Lite features, may be invoked.
The Commission's inquiry also focuses on TikTok's efforts to mitigate systemic risks associated with the Lite app, with the platform given until May 3 to respond. TikTok Lite users are incentivized to engage with the app daily, raising questions about the platform's assessment of addictive features.
The DSA's stringent regulations apply to TikTok and other digital giants, empowering the EU to impose heavy fines and even block repeat offenders' platforms within the union. In addition to EU actions, the US House of Representatives passed legislation targeting TikTok, signaling growing global pressure on the platform.
