European Commission Seeks Information from TikTok on TikTok Lite Launch

Brussels (Brussels Morning) – The European Commission requests information from TikTok under the Digital Services Act regarding TikTok Lite’s launch, focusing on potential risks and safety measures.

Today, the European Commission has sent TikTok a submission for information under the Digital Services Act (DSA), requesting more details on the risk review the provider of TikTok should have undertaken before deploying the new app TikTok Lite in the European Union. 

What specific risks does the Commission examine?

The commission will examine the potential impact of the new “Task and Reward Lite” programme on the safety of minors, as well as on the cognitive health of users, in particular concerning the potential stimulation of addictive behaviour. The Commission also demanded information about the actions the platform has put in place to mitigate such systemic risks.

What is TikTok’s deadline for response?

According to the Press of the European Commission, TikTok must deliver the risk assessment for TikTok Lite in 24 hours and the other asked information by 26 April 2024, after which the Commission will examine TikTok’s reply, and then assess the next steps. 

What actions can the Commission take?

As reported by the Commission, a request for information is an investigatory measure that does not prejudge potential further actions that the Commission may or may not choose to take. However, according to Article 74 (2) of the DSA, the Commission can levy fines for incorrect, insufficient, or misleading information in reaction to a request for information.

What functionality does TikTok Lite introduce?

TikTok Lite is a recent app with a new functionality desired by users aged 18+: the “Reward Program”, which lets users earn points while performing certain “tasks” on TikTok, such as observing videos, liking content, following creators, requesting friends to join TikTok, etc. These points can be traded for rewards, such as Amazon vouchers, and gift cards via PayPal or TikTok’s coins currency that can be paid on tipping creators. TikTok Lite was projected in France and Spain in April 2024.

In February 2024, the European Commission extended formal proceedings against TikTok to assess whether TikTok may have violated the DSA in areas connected to the protection of minors, advertising transparency, data pass for researchers, as well as the risk management of addictive design and destructive content. The Commission is now gathering more evidence.

What are the main purposes of the Digital Services Act?

The Digital Services Act (DSA) create a single set of rules that involve across the whole EU. They have 2 main purposes: To create a safer digital space in which the fundamental freedoms of all users of digital services are safeguarded and To establish a level playing field to foster innovation, expansion, and competitiveness, both in the EU Single Market and globally.

Digital services contain a large category of online services, from websites to internet infrastructure assistance and online platforms. The rules determined in the DSA primarily concern online intermediaries and platforms. For example, online marketplaces, social webs, content-sharing platforms, app stores, and online trip and accommodation platforms. The DSA includes detailed rules for very large online platforms and search engines. These are online venues and intermediaries that have more than 45 million users per month in the EU. They must abide by the most stringent obligations of the Act.