TikTok has been fined 10 million euros by the Italian regulator AGCM. According to the regulator, TikTok did not properly monitor the content on the platform, especially content that endangers the safety of minors and vulnerable people.
The so-called French Scar challenge, among other things, is a thorn in the side of the regulator. In this challenge, people pinch their cheeks so hard that they get red marks around their cheekbones. There are also people who scratch themselves to get the spots. The regulator states that such challenges endanger the psychological and physical safety of users.
The regulator also believes that TIkTok has not taken adequate measures to prevent the distribution of such content. As a result, the company does not comply with its own guidelines, which are intended to ensure users of a safe environment. “In fact, the guidelines are applied without sufficient consideration of the specific vulnerability of adolescents.” According to the AGCM, it is precisely this group that has difficulty distinguishing reality from fiction and has a tendency to imitate group behavior. Furthermore, the AGCM believes it is unacceptable for TikTok to set up its algorithms in such a way that users remain on the platform for as long as possible.
TikTok says in a message to Tweakers that it does not agree with the decision of the Italian regulator. “The so-called French Scar content averaged only 100 daily searches in Italy before the AGCM announcement last year,” the spokesperson said. “We long ago limited the visibility of this content to those under 18 and also made it unsuitable for the For You feed.” The company also reported to Reuters that the videos in question have been blocked in Italy at the request of the regulator.
Update, 2:20 PM: statement from TikTok added to the article.
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