TikTok Fined $10.9 Million in Italy for Inadequate Protection of Minors

TikTok, the popular video-sharing app, has been hit with a hefty fine of $10.9 million by the Italian regulator for failing to adequately protect minors and vulnerable individuals from harmful content. The Italian Competition Authority (AGCM) stated that TikTok did not have appropriate mechanisms in place to monitor and filter content that could potentially threaten the safety of its users.

The investigation into TikTok was launched by the Italian regulator in March last year after numerous videos on the platform showed young people engaging in self-harming behavior, specifically related to a trend known as the “French scar” challenge. This challenge involved individuals continuously and violently squeezing their cheeks until lasting bruises appeared on their cheekbones.

The AGCM confirmed that TikTok was responsible for spreading content that could potentially endanger the psycho-physical safety of its users, including videos related to the “French Scar” challenge. In response, TikTok expressed disagreement with the regulator’s decision, stating that there were only an average of 100 daily searches for such content in Italy before the investigation was announced.

In addition to the fine, TikTok was ordered in February to remove all content related to the viral challenge from its application by the Communications Guarantee Authority, another top watchdog in Italy. The AGCM highlighted that TikTok’s algorithms were circulating potentially dangerous content, aiming to increase user engagement and advertising revenue.

This fine adds to TikTok’s growing troubles in Europe. The European Commission initiated multiple investigations in February to determine whether the social media platform violated the Digital Services Act, which requires platforms to combat harmful content or disinformation. Failure to comply could result in fines of up to 6 percent of a company’s global turnover. The investigations will specifically examine TikTok’s “addictive design” and its failure to protect children.

TikTok has also faced privacy-related fines in Europe. In September 2023, the Irish data watchdog fined the app approximately $368 million for failing to protect the privacy of underage users. Additionally, the French data regulator imposed a fine of around $5.4 million in January 2023 for privacy violations.

The concerns surrounding TikTok are further amplified due to its ties to communist China. Security analysts have raised alarms about the potential weaponization of TikTok against U.S. citizens through predatory surveillance practices, censorship, and the promotion of state-backed propaganda. Over half of U.S. states have already banned government-owned devices from using TikTok.

Just this week, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill that would legally require TikTok to divest from its China-based owner, ByteDance. Failure to comply could result in a ban on U.S. app stores and hosting services. The bill now awaits consideration in the Senate, with President Joe Biden expressing his intention to sign it into law if it passes.

While TikTok remains immensely popular among Americans, with approximately 170 million users nationwide, it has faced bans in other countries. India, for instance, implemented a nationwide ban on TikTok and several other Chinese apps in 2020 following a deadly border clash with China. Nepal also announced a ban on TikTok last year. Furthermore, Canada quietly initiated a national security review of TikTok in September 2023.

As TikTok continues to face scrutiny and fines worldwide, it becomes evident that the app must address its content monitoring and user safety measures more effectively to regain trust and avoid further penalties.