Brussels opened an investigation on Monday targeting the new TikTok Lite application and threatened to suspend from Thursday the functionality of the Chinese social network which rewards time spent in front of screens at the risk of increasing addiction. Virtual coins, convertible into a gift card, in exchange for watching videos… TikTok, owned by the Chinese group ByteDance, launched its controversial new service in France and Spain at the end of March. By pushing people to stay connected, it could dangerously reinforce dependence on the social network.
The European Commission considers that the mechanism poses “serious risks for the mental health of users”. However, the platform did not communicate to Brussels, before its launch, a risk assessment, in accordance with its obligations under the new digital services legislation (DSA). This is why the European executive is preparing to impose a suspension of the rewards program. “Before formally adopting it, TikTok was granted a deadline until (Wednesday) April 24 to provide its defense arguments.”
The European Commission issued a first warning on April 17, asking the platform to provide within 24 hours an assessment of the risks linked to this deployment and to detail the means implemented to reduce them. But “TikTok did not provide the document on time,” explained the Commission in a press release.
“Incessant streams of short, quick videos may seem fun, but they expose our children to the risk of addiction, anxiety, depression, eating disorders, reduced attention spans,” said the European Commissioner. to Digital Thierry Breton. “We suspect TikTok ‘Lite’ of being as toxic and addictive as ‘light’ cigarettes,” he said, quoted in the press release. “We will spare no effort to protect our children,” he warned.
TikTok must provide its risk assessment report by Tuesday at the latest and answer other questions by May 3.
Fines and penalties
In the absence of a timely response, the Commission may impose fines of up to 1% of the group’s annual global turnover and penalties of up to 5% of daily turnover. TikTok Lite rewards users with tokens if they log in daily for ten days, spend time watching videos (with a limit of 60-85 min per day), and do certain actions, like liking videos and follow content creators. These coins can then be exchanged for gift cards on partner sites, such as Amazon.
The social network has repeatedly reminded that only people aged 18 or over can collect points and that it applies procedures to ensure the age of users. A selfie with an ID, a video selfie or bank card authorization is therefore necessary to convert the coins into vouchers, TikTok told AFP. But, for experts, the risks of circumvention seem obvious.
The French Secretary of State for Digital Affairs, Marina Ferrari, expressed “her concern” upon the launch of TikTok Lite. Its services are studying “with the greatest attention the mechanisms of the interface” described as “questionable drift” at a time when France has begun to reflect on screen time, particularly among young people.
With its often dancing or musical video clips, TikTok, which has attracted more than 1.5 billion users worldwide, has been accused for several years in the United States and Europe of causing addictive behavior among adolescents.
The Chinese platform was already under investigation by the Commission, opened in February, for alleged failings in the protection of minors under the DSA. The alleged failings, even before the launch of TikTok Lite, already concerned the management of risks linked to the addictive design and harmful content of the social network, but also the transparency of advertising, and access to algorithms for researchers.
The Commission, which now plays the role of digital policeman in the EU, has the power to control and sanction offenders.