Venezuela fines TikTok $10M after viral challenges allegedly kill 3 children

Dec 31, 2024

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Craig Nigrelli Anchor

By Craig Nigrelli (Anchor), William Jackson (Producer), Kaleb Gillespie (Video Editor)

Venezuela’s Supreme Court fined TikTok $10 million Monday, Dec. 30, alleging the platform failed to prevent the spread of viral challenges allegedly linked to the deaths of three children in recent months. The court accused the platform, owned by Chinese tech company ByteDance, of negligence and ordered it to establish an office in Venezuela to oversee content compliance with local laws.

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The ruling stemmed from incidents involving challenges on TikTok that authorities say encouraged dangerous behaviors. Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro publicly blamed the platform for the death of a 12-year-old girl who reportedly took tranquilizer pills as part of a challenge.

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Accusations against TikTok pile up

Education Minister Héctor Rodríguez cited the death of a 14-year-old who inhaled substances during another challenge. On Nov. 21, Attorney General Tarek William Saab attributed the death of a third child to similar challenges on TikTok.

Judge Tania D’Amelio, who issued the ruling, said TikTok failed to implement “necessary and adequate measures” to curb harmful content.

The court ordered the platform to pay the fine within eight days, with funds directed toward creating a compensation fund for affected families.

TikTok has not yet responded to the ruling or requests for comment.

The Venezuelan government’s response highlights its broader crackdown on social media platforms. In recent years, the country blocked dozens of websites, including platforms that host dissenting voices.

Earlier this year, the government briefly banned access to X, formerly known as Twitter. It accused the platform’s owner, Elon Musk, of supporting anti-government activities.

Despite TikTok’s global community guidelines prohibiting content that promotes self-harm or dangerous activities, Venezuelan officials argued the platform does not adequately enforce its rules. This case spurred lawmakers to consider additional regulations targeting social media platforms operating in the country.

The fine and compliance order reflect Venezuela’s attempt to hold digital platforms accountable for harmful content while reigniting debates about online regulation and responsibility in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.

Tags: Nicolas Maduro, Social Media, TikTok, Venezuela

[CRAIG NIGRELLI]

VIRAL CHALLENGES ON TIKTOK, POPULAR AMONG YOUNG USERS WORLDWIDE, HAVE TAKEN A DARK TURN IN VENEZUELA, ALLEGEDLY LEADING TO THE DEATHS OF THREE CHILDREN. NOW, THE COUNTRY’S SUPREME COURT HANDED DOWN A $10 MILLION FINE AGAINST THE PLATFORM.

THE RULING, ISSUED MONDAY, CLAIMS TIKTOK FAILED TO IMPLEMENT NECESSARY MEASURES TO CURB HARMFUL CONTENT AND ORDERS THE COMPANY TO ESTABLISH A LOCAL OFFICE TO COMPLY WITH VENEZUELAN LAWS. TIKTOK HAS EIGHT DAYS TO PAY THE FINE, WHICH WILL FUND COMPENSATION FOR VICTIMS, BUT HAS NOT YET COMMENTED ON THE DECISION.

THE COURT’S ACTION FOLLOWS INCIDENTS INVOLVING CHILDREN AGED 12, 13, AND 14, WHO REPORTEDLY PARTICIPATED IN CHALLENGES INVOLVING DANGEROUS CHEMICAL SUBSTANCES.

PRESIDENT NICOLÁS MADURO BLAMED TIKTOK FOR ONE CASE, INVOLVING A 12-YEAR-OLD GIRL WHO CONSUMED TRANQUILIZER PILLS. VENEZUELA’S EDUCATION MINISTER CITED ANOTHER INCIDENT INVOLVING A 14-YEAR-OLD WHO DIED AFTER INHALING SUBSTANCES AS PART OF A CHALLENGE AND THE COUNTRY’S ATTORNEY GENERAL LINKED THE PLATFORM TO A THIRD CHILD’S DEATH IN NOVEMBER.

THIS FINE COMES AMID BROADER TENSIONS BETWEEN THE VENEZUELAN GOVERNMENT AND SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS. IN THE PAST, PRESIDENT MADURO ACCUSED PLATFORMS LIKE X AND WHATSAPP OF FACILITATING MISINFORMATION AND UNREST, HE EVEN TEMPORARILY BANNED X EARLIER THIS YEAR.

CRITICS ARGUE THAT TIKTOK’S LACK OF OVERSIGHT ALLOWS HARMFUL CHALLENGES TO PROLIFERATE. WHILE TIKTOK’S COMMUNITY GUIDELINES PROHIBIT CONTENT PROMOTING SELF-HARM OR SUICIDE, VENEZUELAN LAWMAKERS ARE NOW CONSIDERING STRICTER REGULATIONS FOR SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS OPERATING IN THE COUNTRY.

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