TikTok will completely withdraw its questionable Lite Rewards program in the EU to adhere to the Digital Services Act (DSA)– a sweeping material small amounts rulebook for online platforms.
TikTok Lite is the data-light variation of the app, created to operate at slower web connections and in gadgets with little memory capability.
Its Rewards program permits users to make points by liking material, viewing videos, following developers, and welcoming pals to sign up with the platform. They can then exchange these points for benefits, such as Amazon coupons.
The technique is as basic as it is troubling: fulfilling screen time with monetary rewards.
The ByteDance-owned business released the function in France and Spain in March. A month later on, the European Commission opened a main probe.
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The Commission required that TikTok supply an instant threat evaluation, which it had actually stopped working to do prior to the launch– as needed by the DSA. The regulators were worried that the function's addicting impacts might adversely affect the physical and psychological health of users, specifically when it comes to minors.
“The offered brain time of young Europeans is not a currency for social networks– and it never ever will be,” EU Commissioner Thierry Breton stated in a declaration today.
Beside eliminating Lite Rewards, TikTok has actually likewise dedicated to not release any other comparable program that would prevent the withdrawal.
The Commission stated that it will carefully keep an eye on the business's compliance. Prospective infractions can cause fines of approximately 6% of its worldwide yearly turnover.
More probes as part of the DSA
While this marks the very first case the EU has actually closed under the scope of the DSA, another one versus (yes) TikTok is still continuous.
Given that February, the Commission has actually been examining the business's procedures on openness and security in addition to the app's suggestion algorithm which might cause dependency and bunny hole results.
The EU has actually likewise opened official procedures versus X, Meta, and AliExpress.
Released August 5, 2024 – 2:14 pm UTC
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