• The European Union has launched a probe on TikTok Lite, a TikTok spinoff app, which is regarded it having risks of serious damage to the mental health of users including minors.
  • TikTok Lite is a smaller version of the popular TikTok app, and users can earn points that can be exchanged for goods like vouchers or gift cards through the app’s rewards programme.
  • The Digital Services Act (DSA), a new law gives the EU the power to slap companies with heavy fines that could be as high as 6% of a digital firm’s global annual revenues.

The European Union has opened an investigation into the TikTok spinoff app, Lite, amid concerns about child safety, and threatened to remove an “addictive” feature that rewards users for watching and liking videos.

TikTok investigation

The EU is looking into TikTok by the Digital Services Act (DSA), a new law that requires digital companies to take more steps to regulate content on the internet. According to the law, the EU has the authority to fine businesses heavily—up to 6% of a digital firm’s annual global revenues.

The European Commission expressed concern about the app’s “risks of serious damage for the mental health of users,” including children, in a statement released on Monday.

Thierry Breton, the chief tech enforcer for the European Commission, stated that they believe TikTok Lite may be as harmful and addictive as light cigarettes.

Additionally, the commission questioned TikTok regarding the steps it had taken to reduce “systemic risks” in its Lite app, giving the company until May 3 to reply.

The European Commission said that TikTok missed the deadline of April 18 to submit a risk assessment for the spinoff app. As a result, the commission is requesting that the company submit the assessment by Tuesday.

The commission also threatened to fine TikTok up to 1% of its annual revenue or global turnover and to periodically penalize the company up to 5% of its average daily revenue or global turnover if it did not respond to the request.

TikTok declared that minors could not participate in the rewards program and that it would carry on with its discussions with the commission.

Also read: What is Web3 gaming?

Also read: TikTok Shop introduces secondhand luxury fashion line in the UK

About TikTok Lite

With the launch of TikTok Lite in France and Spain in March, users who are 18 years of age or older can accrue points that can be redeemed for products such as gift cards or vouchers via the app’s rewards system.

The well-known TikTok app has a scaled-down version called TikTok Lite, which runs on slower internet connections and requires less memory on smartphones.

TikTok Lite users can earn rewards for logging in every day for ten days, watching videos for a maximum of 60 to 85 minutes each day, and performing specific tasks like liking videos and following content creators.