Caracas [Venezuela], December 31 : Venezuela's Supreme Court has imposed a 10 million dollar fine on TikTok, accusing the popular video-sharing platform of negligence about deadly viral challenges that allegedly led to the deaths of three adolescents due to chemical intoxication, according to a report by Voice of America.
The court, led by Judge Tania D'Amelio, argued that TikTok failed to take "necessary and adequate measures" to prevent the spread of dangerous content encouraging these challenges.
As part of the ruling, TikTok, owned by China's ByteDance, was ordered to establish a local office in Venezuela and given eight days to pay the fine or face further consequences. The court also announced that the fine would fund the creation of a "TikTok victims fund" aimed at compensating individuals affected by harmful content, particularly children and teenagers.
According to the Voice of America, the case stems from reports that three adolescents died and over 200 others were poisoned in schools across Venezuela after engaging in viral challenges involving harmful chemicals. These challenges, a common feature of TikTok's user-driven content, have drawn increasing criticism for their potential to endanger young users. TikTok's platform, which thrives on viral trends, has faced growing scrutiny over its role in spreading hazardous content.
TikTok's official policy prohibits content promoting self-harm or suicide, but critics argue that the platform has not done enough to prevent harmful challenges from going viral. In response to the Venezuelan court's decision, TikTok expressed its understanding of the situation's seriousness but did not comment further on the financial penalty.
The ruling comes amid broader efforts in Venezuela to regulate social media platforms. President Nicolas Maduro has previously threatened harsh actions against TikTok and other platforms, accusing them of promoting content that he claims fosters "hate" and "division."
Earlier in November, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro held TikTok responsible for the death of a 12-year-old girl, claiming she died after taking part in a TikTok challenge that involved consuming tranquilliser pills and trying to stay awake.
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