A Venezuelan Court has imposed a $10 million fine on TikTok following viral challenges that led to the deaths of three children and injured dozens in recent months.
In a ruling delivered on Monday, the court mandated TikTok to pay the fine to the nation’s telecommunications agency within 10 days.
Additionally, the social media platform was instructed to establish a formal office in Venezuela.
The tragic cases
The court’s decision follows the deaths of three children, aged 12, 13, and 14, who participated in TikTok challenges involving the ingestion, inhalation, and application of hazardous chemical mixtures.
President Nicolas Maduro condemned these activities, emphasizing their dangerous nature and calling for accountability.
In their ruling, the judges criticized TikTok for a “lack of timely control” over the spread of harmful content on its platform. They stated that TikTok bore partial responsibility for the tragic outcomes. Proceeds from the fine are to be allocated to a compensation fund for victims of the incidents.
TikTok has yet to comment on the ruling.
Concerns over social media
This development comes amidst heightened scrutiny of social media platforms in Venezuela. President Maduro has intensified his criticism of platforms like TikTok and WhatsApp, accusing them of facilitating harmful activities.
Earlier this year, Maduro urged his supporters to delete WhatsApp, labeling it a tool used by “fascists” to incite violence.
This incident adds to a growing list of controversies surrounding TikTok, as governments worldwide grapple with how to regulate the platform’s influence on users, especially minors.
