Venezuela’s Supreme Court imposed a $10 million fine on TikTok Monday, citing the app’s connection to viral challenges that resulted in the deaths of three adolescents from chemical intoxication.
Judge Tania D’Amelio of the Supreme Tribunal of Justice stated that the video-sharing platform had neglected to take “necessary and adequate measures” to prevent disseminating content promoting these dangerous challenges.
Owned by China’s ByteDance, TikTok has been mandated to establish an office in Venezuela and must pay the fine within eight days or face “appropriate” actions.
The funds from the fine are intended to establish a TikTok victims’ fund, which aims to compensate for the psychological, emotional, and physical harm suffered by users, particularly children and adolescents, D’Amelio mentioned.
During the court proceedings, the company acknowledged the gravity of the situation, as conveyed by D’Amelio.
Venezuelan authorities reported that the challenges led to three adolescent fatalities and 200 cases of intoxication across schools nationwide, with participants ingesting harmful chemicals.
TikTok, globally popular for its engaging challenges that often go viral, has faced criticism for facilitating the spread of dangerous content despite its official policy prohibiting videos that promote self-harm and suicide.
In November, President Nicolas Maduro warned of “severe measures” against TikTok unless it removed videos related to what he described as “criminal challenges.”
Read: TikTok Takes Supreme Court Battle to Block U.S. Ban
Following his controversial reelection in July, Maduro announced that Parliament is considering regulations for social networks, which he claims are being used to foster “hate,” “fascism,” and “division.” He has also accused Elon Musk, the billionaire owner of social media platform X, of launching “attacks against Venezuela.”
