TikTok, a popular video-sharing app, has come under fire from both the US and the EU due to concerns about data privacy and mental health risks. The US has issued an ultimatum, ordering TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to divest the app within 270 days or face removal from US app stores. The EU, on the other hand, is investigating TikTok Lite’s reward system, which may pose mental health risks to young users. TikTok denies these allegations and has addressed the EU’s concerns.
The European Union has initiated an investigation into China’s medical devices market, prompting immediate accusations from Beijing that the bloc is engaging in protectionism. Brussels suspects that China favors domestic suppliers in medical device procurement, raising concerns over a ‘Buy China’ policy, import restrictions, and abnormally low bids. If the EU investigation concludes that China is engaging in unfair practices, it could limit Chinese companies’ access to the 27-nation bloc’s public procurement market.
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.
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.
