Venezuela fines TikTok $13.6 million over viral challenge deaths

CARACAS - Venezuela’s highest court on Dec 30 fined TikTok US$10 million (S$13.6 million) in connection with viral challenges that the authorities say left three adolescents dead from intoxication by chemical substances.

Justice Tania D’Amelio of the Supreme Tribunal of Justice said the popular video-sharing app was negligent in failing to implement “necessary and adequate measures” to stop the spread of content encouraging the challenges.

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 “appropriate” measures.

Venezuela would use the money to “create a TikTok victims fund, intended to compensate for the psychological, emotional and physical damage to users, especially if these users are children and adolescents”, Justice D’Amelio said.

The company told the court that it “understands the seriousness of the matter”, she added.

According to the authorities, three adolescents died and 200 were intoxicated in schools across the country after ingesting chemical substances as part of social media “challenges”.

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.

The app has been accused of putting users in danger with the spread of hazardous challenge videos. TikTok’s official policy prohibits videos promoting self-harm and suicide.

In November, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro threatened “severe measures” against TikTok if it did not remove content related to what he called “criminal challenges”.

Parliament is considering laws regulating social networks, which Mr Maduro said after his disputed re-election in July were being used to promote hate, fascism and division.

He has also accused Mr Elon Musk, the billionaire owner of social media platform X, of orchestrating “attacks against Venezuela”. AFP