Brussels finalizes the suspension of the new TikTok 'app' in Spain that pays users to watch videos

BRUSSELS, April 22 (EUROPA PRESS) -

The European Commission finalizes the suspension of the new TikTok 'app' with which it pays its users to view and interact with content published on the platform and which, for the moment, in Europe is only available in Spain and France; a measure that Brussels takes when considering that the Chinese company is not complying with the new European rules for digital services.

"We suspect that the TikTok Lite service is toxic and addictive, especially for children," said Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton, in a brief message broadcast through social networks to announce the upcoming suspension of the program.

The French liberal has warned that the company could still present "convincing security evidence" of the new 'app' to avoid suspension at the last minute, but he has made it clear that he does not trust it because "they have not done so until now ".

"We are willing to activate the provisional measures of the Digital Services Law, including the suspension of the rewards program," stressed the Commissioner in charge of Telecommunications.

The announcement also coincides with the opening by the Community Executive of a sanctioning file against TikTok for not having responded within time to the information request sent last week by the European Commission, which gave it 24 hours to present the risk assessment to the that all large platforms are obliged to do before launching a new program in the community market.

Community sources point out that it is the first file of its kind initiated since the new EU rules for the digital sector came into force and explain that it is because it is the first time that a large platform does not respond in any way to the request for information.

Specifically, Brussels is investigating whether the Chinese company is complying with its obligations of transparency and protection of minors in the development of the new application, 'TikTok Lite', in principle aimed only at adults.

This is a program that allows users to accumulate points by discovering new content or performing certain actions and which they can then redeem for gift vouchers to spend on other shopping platforms such as Amazon or via PayPal, as well as to reward creators on TikTok.

In addition, the company has until April 26 to submit more detailed information on the impact of the new program on the protection of minors and on the mental health of users, especially regarding the danger of stimulating addictive behaviors.

Community services also ask for explanations about the measures taken before deploying the new app in Europe to "mitigate this type of systemic risks."

The Commission, which will analyze in detail the information it is collecting before making any decision, remembers that the formal request for information is a step within the investigation that does not prejudge the steps that may be taken later.

However, the community institution adds, it has the power to impose fines on companies that do not collaborate with the investigation if they do not send the required information within the established deadlines or if they send incorrect or distorted documentation.

Last February, the Community Executive already began a formal investigation to determine whether the new European law on child protection, transparency, access to data and measures against addictive or harmful content was violated.