Chinese online fast-fashion retailer Shein has been added to the European Union’s list of very large online platforms that require enhanced scrutiny under the Digital Services Act (DSA). The DSA is a comprehensive regulatory framework aimed at ensuring a safer online environment. Shein, known for its low-cost apparel and social media marketing, will now be subject to strict measures to protect users and mitigate risks associated with its services.
The EU has effectively quashed a TikTok feature that was deemed “toxic” and “addictive.” TikTok Lite’s reward-to-watch feature, which allowed users to earn rewards by watching and liking videos, has been suspended. This action follows a bill signed by President Biden forcing ByteDance to sell TikTok’s US operations or face a ban. The EU Commission expressed concerns about the potential for addictive behavior in children, prompting TikTok to voluntarily suspend the rewards function while addressing raised concerns.
TikTok has suspended a feature on its new Lite app that rewarded users in Europe for watching videos. The move follows pressure from European Union regulators who expressed concerns about the app’s potential addictive effects on young users.
The European Commission has commenced infringement proceedings against Estonia, Poland, and Slovakia for failing to appoint their Digital Services Coordinators, essential regulators under the EU’s platform regulation. Cyprus, Czechia, and Portugal have also received formal letters for not granting their regulators sufficient powers to enforce the Digital Services Act (DSA). The countries have two months to rectify the deficiencies identified by the Commission.
The European Commission is scrutinizing the impact of TikTok Lite’s rewards program on users’ mental health, especially children. TikTok has submitted a risk assessment report, which will be reviewed by the Commission. Concerns about the rewards scheme stem from its potential to promote excessive app usage and negative psychological outcomes. The Commission has also launched an investigation to assess TikTok’s compliance with the Digital Services Act.
TikTok has submitted a risk assessment report on its new app, TikTok Lite, to the European Commission, averting a potential fine. The EU executive had raised concerns about TikTok Lite’s reward program and its potential addictiveness for children. The company has until Wednesday to present arguments on the reward program, which will determine if the Commission temporarily suspends it until it assesses its safety for children. The Commission is also investigating TikTok Lite’s launch in France and Spain, examining whether it breached the Digital Services Act (DSA) rules.
The European Commission’s initiative to introduce a voluntary ‘Cookie Pledge’ for technology giants has encountered setbacks due to stakeholder disagreements and concerns about the effectiveness of voluntary measures. The initiative aimed to empower consumers with clear choices regarding tracking-based advertising, but interest from Big Tech companies waned during discussions.
The European Union has launched an investigation into TikTok’s Lite app, expressing concerns about its potential impact on mental health, particularly among minors. The app rewards users for watching and liking videos, a feature the commission deems “addictive”. TikTok Lite is a smaller version of the popular TikTok app, designed for smartphones with less memory and slower internet connections.
The European Union (EU) has opened a formal investigation into TikTok Lite, a smaller version of the popular video-sharing app, due to concerns over its addictive nature and potential impact on young users’ mental health. The investigation follows a previous probe into TikTok’s broader practices earlier this year.
The European Union (EU) has launched an investigation into TikTok’s spinoff app, TikTok Lite, amid concerns about its potential impact on mental health, particularly among minors. The probe comes after TikTok failed to submit a risk assessment for the app by an April 18 deadline. The EU has threatened to suspend the app’s reward program, which allows users to earn points for watching and liking videos, pending an assessment of its safety. TikTok has expressed disappointment with the decision, maintaining that the program is not available to minors.
