CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuela’s Supreme Court on Monday issued a $10 million fine against TikTok for “not implementing measures” to prevent viral video challenges that have allegedly led to the deaths of three Venezuelan children recently.
Judge Tania D’Amelio said TikTok had acted in a negligent manner and gave it eight days to pay the fine, while also ordering the video service company to open an office in Venezuela that would supervise content so that it complies with local laws.
The judge did not explain how Venezuela would force TikTok, whose parent company is based in China, to pay the fine. Venezuela has blocked dozens of websites in previous years for not complying with regulations set by its telecommunications commission.
TikTok did not immediately respond to requests for comment from The Associated Press.
In November, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro blamed TikTok for the death of a 12-year-old girl who allegedly died after participating in a TikTok challenge that involved taking tranquilizer pills and not falling asleep.
Venezuela’s Education Minister Hector Rodriguez also said last month that a 14-year-old died after taking part in a TikTok challenge that involved sniffing substances. And on Nov. 21, Venezuela’s attorney general blamed video challenges on TikTok for the death of a third child.
Dozens of radio stations and television channels have been taken off the air in Venezuela under Maduro over their news coverage. More than 60 websites belonging to human rights groups and news companies were blocked at different times this year, according to VE Sin Filtro, a group that tracks media freedoms in the South American country.
In August, Venezuela banned the social media platform X as thousands of Venezuelans took to the streets t o protest the re-election of Maduro.
The Venezuelan government initially banned X for 10 days, after Maduro accused its owner Elon Musk of using the social media platform to “orchestrate attacks against Venezuela.” Musk had accused Maduro of rigging the July 28 election, which the United Nations and the Carter Center, an organization that monitors elections around the world, said did not meet international standards.
X can now be accessed on privately run internet providers in Venezuela, but it is still blocked by Venezuela’s state owned internet provider Movilnet.
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Rueda reported from Bogotá, Colombia
Recently, Venezuela’s top court has issued a hefty $10 million fine for the popular social media platform TikTok. The fine comes in response to allegedly deadly video challenges that have been circulating on the platform.
The challenges in question have reportedly led to serious injuries and even deaths among young users who attempted to replicate them. The court’s decision to issue such a large fine sends a strong message that harmful content will not be tolerated on social media platforms.
TikTok has come under fire in recent years for its lack of oversight and moderation of content, particularly when it comes to dangerous challenges that put users at risk. This latest ruling serves as a reminder that platforms like TikTok must take responsibility for the content they host and ensure the safety of their users.
As the popularity of social media continues to grow, it is essential for platforms to prioritize the safety and well-being of their users. Hopefully, this fine will serve as a wake-up call for TikTok and other social media platforms to take a more proactive approach to monitoring and removing harmful content.
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