The European Commission is looking into TikTok due to a feature in France and Spain that lets users earn points for doing tasks on the app, the commission said Monday.
The inquiry will check if TikTok’s “addictive” features of its “TikTok lite” program broke the European Union’s Digital Service Act (DSA) rules, which safeguard minors online, the commission announced. The investigation will examine TikTok’s adherence to the regulations — in place since February — through its “Task and Reward Lite” program, and what steps the company has taken to reduce the risks it poses to minors’ mental health..
The investigation into the reward program is the second review of TikTok’s compliance with the DSA since February.
The program lets users earn points for actions like watching videos, liking content, following creators, and inviting friends to join the app. The commission stated it was launched “without prior diligent assessment of the risks it entails” and “without effective risk mitigating measures.”
The commission initiated formal proceedings after sending TikTok a formal request for information about the program's launch in Spain and France last week. TikTok did not respond with the risk assessment report and other requested information within the 24-hour timeline given by the commission, according to the announcement.
The commission has given the company a new deadline to submit the risk assessment report by Wednesday, and until May 3 for additional information requested. TikTok may face substantial fines if it does not respond within the window. If TikTok does not reply to the request for information by the deadline, the commission said it may impose a fine up to 1 percent of TikTok’s total annual income or worldwide revenue and period penalties up to 5 percent of TikTok’s average daily income or worldwide revenue.
The Hill reached out to a TikTok spokesperson for comment.
The European Commission is investigating TikTok over a feature that launched in France and Spain, allowing users to earn points for completing certain tasks on the app. The commission aims to determine if TikTok’s “addictive” features of its “TikTok lite” program violate the Digital Service Act of the European Union.
If TikTok does not reply to the request for information by the deadline, the commission said it may impose a fine up to 1 percent of TikTok’s total annual income or worldwide revenue and period penalties up to 5 percent of TikTok’s average daily income or worldwide revenue.
The Hill reached out to a TikTok spokesperson for comment.
