The EU has said it will ban a new service launched by TikTok in Europe that it believes could be “as addictive as cigarettes” unless the company offers “compelling” new evidence that children are protected.
If the ban goes ahead, it would be the first time the EU has used sweeping new powers to impose sanctions on social media companies since its landmark Digital Services Act (DSA) came into force last August.
The commission gave TikTok until Wednesday to “present arguments in its defense that the commission will carefully evaluate” before making a final decision on enforcement actions.
Digital commissioner Thierry Breton said the Chinese-owned video-sharing platform “failed to demonstrate” that TikTok Lite, which rewards users for watching clips, met its obligations under the law, describing the service as ” toxic”.
The commission said the reward feature could be suspended on the block if TikTok did not provide a satisfactory response to regulators’ concerns about the impact on users’ mental health.
Breton noted that the app was launched in France and Spain this month despite there being an ongoing DSA investigation into the company launched in February over other concerns regarding child protection. She said millions of children in Europe use TikTok and the commission “spares no effort to protect them.”
The new watch and receive rewards app offers users rewards such as Amazon vouchers, gift cards through PayPal or TikTok Coins for points earned through “tasks,” which include watching videos, liking content, follow creators or invite friends to join.
Breton told reporters that TikTok Lite “could be as toxic and addictive as cigarettes.” He said that while TikTok’s main app offered users “fun and a sense of connection,” it also “carries considerable risk for our children: addiction, anxiety, depression, eating disorders, short attention spans.”
Last week, TikTok was given 24 hours to provide a risk assessment on the new Lite service amid concerns that it could encourage children to get hooked on watching videos.
On Monday, the commission said it had not received satisfactory responses from TikTok about safeguards against addiction, even though it was already under investigation in relation to other child protection concerns.
“While this first case is ongoing, TikTok decided to launch TikTok Lite, which under the laudable promise of allowing you to watch videos… creates financial incentives to spend more time on your phone,” he said.
Breton wrote on
after newsletter promotion
🚨We suspect #TikTokLite characteristic of being toxic and addictive, particularly for children.
Unless TikTok provides compelling evidence of security (which it has not done so far), we are prepared to activate #DSA provisional measures, including #suspension from the TikTokLite “rewards program” pic.twitter.com/71neLMrkYy
— Thierry Breton (@ThierryBreton) April 22, 2024
A TikTok spokesperson said: “We are disappointed with this decision: the TikTok Lite rewards center is not available to those under 18 years of age and there is a daily limit on video viewing tasks. “We will continue discussions with the commission.”
The ultimatum comes as the future of the viral video platform’s U.S. operation is in doubt after lawmakers in Washington passed a bill over the weekend that could ban the app if TikTok’s Chinese owner ByteDance , does not sell its stake in the American business. TikTok said on Monday it would fight any ban or forced sale in court.
The investigation launched in February by the DSA into the protection of children on TikTok includes issues of age verification, advertising transparency and risk management of addictive designs and harmful content.