Social media company TikTok is suspending new features amid an inquiry by the European Commission into its compliance with the Digital Services Act (DSA), all while responding to a U.S. ban bill just signed into law.
On Monday, the European Commission opened an investigation into the launch of TikTok Lite under the DSA in France and Spain and communicated its intention to suspend the feature’s reward program.
Under the DSA, “very large online platforms” must conduct diligent risk assessments before the launch of new functionality, particularly related to potentially addictive effects. TikTok Lite’s reward program allows users to earn points for performing tasks, such as watching videos, liking content, following creators, and inviting friends to join the platform.
On Wednesday, TikTok responded in a statement on X, formerly Twitter, that it “always seeks to engage constructively with the EU Commission and other regulators. We are therefore voluntarily suspending the rewards functions in TikTok Lite while we address the concerns that they have raised.”
In February, the European Commission launched its first DSA probe into TikTok over alleged addictive design and data privacy concerns for minors.
TikTok Chief Executive Shou Zi Chew’s efforts to assuage scrutiny across the globe, including a ban bill signed Wednesday by U.S. President Joe Biden titled the “Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act,” have done little to quell data security and privacy concerns.
In a video response, Chew argued the constitutionality of the ban on First Amendment grounds. He also boasted the company’s U.S. data security efforts and “billions of dollars” spent to secure data and keep the platform free from outside manipulation, similar comments he made during testimony to Congress in March 2023.
Meanwile, TikTok this week avoided a ban in Kenya, with the government instead trying to focus on regulating the platform.
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