This Monday, the European Commission opened a second formal process in opposition to TikTok below the Digital Services Act (DSA). The opening this time goals to assess whether or not the firm could have breached the DSA by launching TikTok Lite in France and Spain. Under the DSA, designated very massive on-line platforms are required to submit a danger evaluation report, together with measures to mitigate any potential systemic dangers, earlier than launching any new performance that will have a essential influence on their systemic dangers. . In this manner, the Competition Commissioner, Margrethe Vestager, has warned that Brussels’ concept is to suspend this utility from this Thursday.
The Commission is anxious that the TikTok Lite Tasks and Rewards Program, which permits customers to earn factors by performing sure “duties” on TikTok – reminiscent of watching movies, liking content material, following creators, inviting associates to be a part of TikTok, and so forth. – has been launched with out a diligent prior evaluation of the dangers concerned, particularly these associated to the addictive impact of the platforms, and with out adopting efficient danger mitigation measures. This is particularly regarding for youngsters, given the alleged lack of efficient age verification mechanisms on TikTok. The lack of efficient age verification mechanisms and the alleged addictive design of the platforms are already being investigated in the first formal proceedings in opposition to TikTok.
In this case, the investigation will concentrate on TikTok’s compliance with the DSA obligation to conduct and submit a danger evaluation report earlier than deploying functionalitieson this case the program Task and Reward Lite, which can have a essential influence on systemic dangers. In specific, damaging results on psychological well being, together with that of minors, particularly as a consequence of the new performance stimulating addictive behaviors. If confirmed, these breaches would represent violations of sections 34 and 35 of the DSA. The Commission will now perform an in-depth investigation as a precedence. The opening of a formal process doesn’t prejudge its end result.
In addition, the Commission has additionally despatched TikTok a formal data request, primarily based on a Commission determination, obliging the firm to present a response to its data request of April 17, 2024. In specific, the Commission had requested to TikTok to current earlier than April 18 the TikTok Lite danger evaluation report, in addition to data on the measures that the platform has applied to mitigate the attainable systemic dangers of those new functionalities. TikTok didn’t current stated doc inside the anticipated interval.
TikTok now has till April 23 to current the danger evaluation report to the Commission and till May 3 to present the remainder of the requested data.
We have opened a second formal continuing in opposition to TikTok.
We’re involved that TikTok has failed to assess the dangers that its “Task and Reward Program” entails, and we contemplate that there are dangers of great harm for the psychological well being of customers.
More data ↓#DSA
— European Commission (@EU_Commission) April 22, 2024
In the occasion that TikTok doesn’t reply to the Commission’s request for data by determination inside the indicated deadlines, The Commission could impose fines of up to 1% of complete annual revenue or of the provider’s worldwide turnover and periodic penalties of up to 5% of the provider’s common day by day income or world annual turnover.
