Since August 2023, certain Internet companies, including TikTok, must comply with the Digital Services Act (DSA). The DSA provides rules on child protection, advertising transparency, data access, app design and dealing with harmful content, among others. Based on the DSA, TikTok must provide a safe online environment for children, protect their privacy and act against harmful content.
On April 22, 2024, the European Commission launched an investigation into TikTok to see if TikTok complied with the DSA. The European Commission also questioned whether TikTok’s program “TikTok Lite”, which TikTok launched in France and Spain, complied with the DSA. TikTok Lite allows users to use the “Task and Reward Program” to earn points by performing certain tasks on TikTok, such as watching videos and liking content. This has a strong addictive effect for children, as it encourages children to be on TikTok as much as possible. In violation of the DSA, TikTok did not pre-assess these risks nor attempted to mitigate them.
Enforcement by the European Commission now requires TikTok to permanently discontinue the TikTok Lite program in the EU. TikTok may not launch other programs that would circumvent the abolition either. The European Commission may impose fines on TikTok if TikTok fails to comply.
The Take Back Your Privacy Foundation (TBYP) is pleased that the European Commission is proactively monitoring and banning TikTok’s behaviour. After all, TikTok is already highly addictive for children even without TikTok Lite. Like the European Commission, TBYP remains committed to a safe online environment for children, including through TBYP’s lawsuit against TikTok. You can still sign up for the claim through this link.
Read more:
TikTok commits to permanently withdraw TikTok Lite Rewards programme from the EU to comply with the Digital Services Act
EU launches investigation into reward feature in TikTok Lite
Commission opens proceedings against TikTok under the DSA regarding the launch of TikTok Lite in France and Spain, and communicates its intention to suspend the reward programme in the EU