European Union regulators said Wednesday they are seeking details from TikTok about the video-sharing platform’s new app that will pay users to watch videos.
The European Commission announced that it has sent a “request for information” to TikTok regarding the TikTok Lite app, which was secretly released in France and Spain.
The commission wants to know what risk assessments TikTok should have carried out before rolling out its app in the European Union.
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TikTok said in a statement: “We are already in direct contact with the European Commission regarding this product and will respond to requests for information.”
European Union regulators are seeking details about TikTok’s new app, TikTok Lite, which was quietly released in France and Spain. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer, File)
Such assessments are required under the Digital Services Act, a sweeping law enacted last year aimed at cleaning up social media platforms. The commission is the enforcement arm of the 27-nation bloc and the chief enforcer of digital regulation.
TikTok Lite allows users to “earn great rewards,” according to the app store listing. The app, which launched in France and Spain this month, is a slimmed-down version of the main TikTok app without e-commerce or live streaming features.
The commission said the app allows users to earn points by watching videos, liking content and following content creators. The points you accumulate can be exchanged for rewards such as Amazon coupons and PayPal gift cards.
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TikTok said the offer is limited to users 18 and older and must verify their age. Users can earn rewards by watching up to an hour of video per day, capped at the equivalent of 1 euro ($1.06) per day.
TikTok has 24 hours to submit a risk assessment. What the commission says is the potential impact of the apps on the protection of minors and the “mental health of users, particularly in relation to the potential stimulation of addictive behavior.” are interested in.
It’s also asking for other information about measures TikTok has put in place to mitigate these “systemic risks,” which the company plans to provide by April 26.
