The Chinese social media platform TikTok has committed to permanently removing its rewards program from the TikTok Lite app in the European Union.
Additionally, the company has pledged not to launch any similar programs that could bypass this removal. This decision aligns with the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA) regulations, as reported by the European Commission (EC) on Monday.
The EC’s announcement concludes the formal proceedings initiated against TikTok on April 22. With this decision, TikTok’s commitments become legally binding, and any violations will be immediately considered breaches of the DSA, potentially resulting in fines.
The EC will closely monitor TikTok’s adherence to these commitments and other obligations under the DSA in the coming months.
TikTok Lite is a standalone version of the main TikTok app. After its launch in Spain and France in April 2024, the EC raised concerns about the TikTok Lite rewards program, which allowed users to earn points for performing specific tasks on the platform, such as watching videos, liking content, following creators, and inviting friends to join TikTok.
The EC was particularly concerned that the program was launched without a thorough risk assessment, especially regarding its addictive potential and without effective risk mitigation measures. The rewards program could potentially negatively impact users’ physical and mental health, particularly minors who may be more susceptible to such features.
Under the DSA, very large online platforms are required to conduct risk assessments and submit reports to the EC before launching new features that could significantly affect users. They must also implement effective measures to address identified risks.
Since TikTok did not submit a risk assessment report for the TikTok Lite rewards program, the EC initiated formal proceedings against the company on April 22. TikTok voluntarily suspended the program two days later.
The first formal proceeding against TikTok, initiated by the EC on February 19, remains ongoing. This investigation focuses on areas related to the protection of minors, advertising transparency, researchers’ access to data, and the management of risks associated with addictive design and harmful content.
