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Venezuela fines TikTok $10 million over viral challenge deaths

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  • Venezuela fines TikTok $10 million over viral challenge deaths
  • December 30, 2024
  • Article Body Text Caracas, Venezuela — <p>Venezuela's highest court Monday fined TikTok $10 million in connection with viral challenges that authorities say left three adolescents dead from intoxication by chemical substances.</p> <p>Supreme Tribunal of Justice Judge Tania D'Amelio said that the popular video-sharing app had been negligent in failing to implement &quot;necessary and adequate measures&quot; to stop the spread of content encouraging the challenges.</p> <p>TikTok, which is owned by China's ByteDance, was ordered to open an office in the South American country and given eight days to pay the fine or face &quot;appropriate&quot; measures.</p> <p>Venezuela would use the money to &quot;create a TikTok victims fund, intended to compensate for the psychological, emotional and physical damages to users, especially if these users are children and adolescents,&quot; D'Amelio said.</p> <p>The company told the court that it &quot;understands the seriousness of the matter,&quot; she said.</p> <p>According to Venezuelan authorities, three adolescents died and 200 were intoxicated in schools across the country after ingesting chemical substances as part of social media &quot;challenges.&quot;</p> <p>TikTok's huge global success has been partly built on the success of its challenges — a call that invites users to create videos featuring dances, jokes or games that sometimes go viral.</p> <p>The app has been accused of putting users in danger with the spread of hazardous challenge videos.</p> <p>TikTok's official policy prohibits videos promoting self-harm and suicide.</p> <p>In November, President Nicolas Maduro threatened &quot;severe measures&quot; against TikTok if it did not remove content related to what he called &quot;criminal challenges.&quot;</p> <p>Parliament is considering laws regulating social networks, which Maduro said after his disputed reelection in July was being used to promote &quot;hate,&quot; &quot;fascism&quot; and &quot;division.&quot;</p> <p>He has accused Elon Musk, the billionaire owner of social media platform X, of orchestrating &quot;attacks against Venezuela.&quot;</p>
  • Content Type Text
  • Language English
  • NewsML Media Topics Arts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
  • Subtitles / Dubbing Available No
  • Network VOA
  • Embargo Date December 30, 2024 16:20 EST
  • Byline Agence France-Presse
  • Brand / Language Service Voice of America - English
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