KUALA LUMPUR – TikTok has permanently withdrawn its Lite Rewards programme from the European Union and pledged to not launch other programmes that would circumvent the withdrawal.
These commitments have been submitted by TikTok to address the concerns raised by the European Commission in the formal proceedings opened against TikTok on April 22 and ensure compliance with the Digital Services Act (DSA).
This will close the 105 days of formal proceedings into the programme.
The commission will carefully monitor TikTok’s compliance with the binding commitments the platform has offered under article 71 of the DSA, as well as with its other obligations under the DSA.
Its first formal proceedings against TikTok, which were launched on February 19, remain open and the investigation continues.
TikTok Lite is a new separate version of the TikTok app. Following its launch in Spain and France in April 2024, the commission expressed concerns regarding the TikTok Lite Rewards programme, which allowed users to earn points while performing certain “Tasks” on TikTok Lite, such as watching videos, liking content, following creators, and inviting friends to join TikTok.
The commission was concerned that the Lite Rewards programme had been launched without a prior diligent assessment of the risks it entails, particularly in relation to the addictive effect of the programme, and without taking effective risk mitigating measures.
The rewards programme, which may stimulate addictive behaviour, could potentially have negative effects on the physical and mental health of users. – August 5, 2024
