TikTok Removes ‘Lite’ Rewards in EU to Adhere to Tech Regulations

ByteDance’s TikTok has agreed to permanently withdraw its TikTok Lite rewards programme from the EU to comply with the bloc’s Digital Services Act (DSA), the European Commission said on Monday.

TikTok Lite offered a “Reward Programme” that allowed users to earn points by performing tasks on the platform, such as watching videos, liking content, following creators, or inviting friends to join.

In April, the EU demanded an immediate risk assessment from TikTok regarding the app, shortly after it was launched in France and Spain. Concerns were raised about its potential impact on children and users’ mental health.

Under the DSA, large online platforms are required to report potential risks of new functionalities to the EU before they are launched and must adopt effective measures to address these risks.

The EU’s executive branch stated that TikTok had now made legally binding commitments to withdraw the rewards programme from the EU and to avoid launching any other programmes that would circumvent this decision.

“Any breach of the commitments would immediately amount to a breach of the DSA and could therefore lead to fines,” the commission said.

An ongoing investigation is still examining whether TikTok breached online content rules aimed at protecting children and ensuring transparent advertising. This investigation, initiated in February, puts the social media platform at risk of a hefty fine.

Source: Reuters