In a press release published on X on Wednesday 24 April, the social network TikTok announced that it had suspended access to its rewards programme within the ‘TikTok Lite’ application. This was in the Commission’s sights when it opened an investigation on Monday 22 April (see EUROPE 13396/4).
The Commission suspects that the programme poses “serious risks” to its users, particularly young people, through the possibility of earning money by using the application, which could lead to problems of addiction and dependency.
“TikTok always seeks to engage constructively with the European Commission and other regulators. This is why we are voluntarily suspending the rewards functions in TikTok Lite while we address the concerns they have raised”, said the platform in its short statement.
The day before, on Tuesday 23 April, the Reuters press agency had reported that TikTok said it had sent the Commission the risk report on the application that the Commission had been requesting for a fortnight (see EUROPE 13393/10).
The Commission takes note of TikTok’s decision but insists that the two formal proceedings against the application, including the one concerning the launch of ‘TikTok Lite’ remain open.
“Our proceedings against TikTok concerning the risk of dependence on the platform are continuing, including the investigation into whether the launch of ‘TikTok Lite’ was carried out in compliance with the DSA”, said the Commissioner for Digital Affairs and the Internal Market, Thierry Breton, after TikTok’s announcement. (Original version in French by Isalia Stieffatre)