EU threatens to suspend TikTok Lite rewards for users

The European Union (EU) on Monday launched an investigation into the TikTok Lite app and threatened to suspend a feature that rewards users for watching videos and giving them “I like”, due to the risks of generating addictive behaviors.

In a statement, the European Commission (executive arm of the EU) expressed its concern because “considers that there are risks of serious damage to the mental health of users”, especially for minors.

TikTok Lite is a simplified version of the popular video app, which takes up less memory on a smartphone and is designed to work with slower Internet connections.

This new TikTok plan includes a “Rewards Program” through points awarded to users who complete tasks such as watching complete videos, expressing “I like”, follow content creators and invite your contacts to join the platform.

These points can later be exchanged for vouchers for purchases on Amazon or resources on the PayPal payment network.

TikTok Lite It was released in March in France and Spain.

The Commission noted in its note that it must analyze whether TikTok launched its new application in the EU without complying with the law that regulates large digital platforms, and which requires them to previously present a risk assessment study.

A week ago the Commission demanded TikTok -owned by the Chinese giant ByteDance- to present details on risk assessment due to the possibility that its application generates addictive behavior.

However, the company did not present the required data, the Commission noted.

“We are disappointed” for the opening of this procedure, since “The TikTok Lite rewards program is not accessible to those under 18 years of age and includes a daily limit for video viewing“, a TikTok spokesperson told AFP, adding that the group plans to continue “dialoguing” with the Commission on this matter.

Like ‘light’ cigarettes

Now, the EU is analyzing whether the launch of TikTok Lite occurred without the Commission having previously analyzed the risk assessment studies.

The commission suspects that TikTok launched the application “without a prior and diligent evaluation of the risks involved, particularly those related to the addictive effect of the platforms.”

For this reason, the Commission threatened to impose provisional measures, including the suspension of the bounty program in the European Union, “awaiting evaluation of his safety.”

In its note, the Commission warned that if TikTok fails to present the new information by Wednesday of this week, it will be exposed to fines that can reach 1% of its total annual income.

In the statement, the European Commissioner for the Internal Market, Thierry Breton, mentioned that “TikTok ‘Lite’ could be as toxic and addictive as ‘light’ cigarettes.”

“Unless TikTok provides compelling evidence of its safety, which it has not done so far, we are willing to activate interim measures.”, he noted.

The commission also questioned TikTok about the measures it contemplates to mitigate the “systemic risks” from its Lite app, and gave the platform until May 3 to respond.

In February, the Commission had already opened a formal investigation into TikTok for alleged violations of its obligations to protect minors online.

The day before, the United States House of Representatives approved a bill on Saturday that would force TikTok to divest from ByteDance or face a ban in the United States, where it has about 170 million users.