CARACAS – On December 30, Venezuela’s highest court fined TikTok $10 million in connection with viral challenges that authorities say resulted in the deaths of three adolescents from chemical intoxication. Supreme Tribunal of Justice Judge Tania D’Amelio stated that the video-sharing app, owned by China’s ByteDance, had been negligent in failing to implement measures to prevent the spread of harmful content.
TikTok was ordered to open an office in Venezuela and given eight days to pay the fine or face further measures. The funds will be used to create a TikTok victims fund to compensate for psychological, emotional, and physical damages to users, particularly children and adolescents.
The company acknowledged the seriousness of the matter, according to D’Amelio. Venezuelan authorities reported that three adolescents died and 200 were intoxicated in schools across the country after participating in social media challenges involving chemical substances.
TikTok’s global success has been partly driven by its viral challenges, which sometimes involve dangerous activities. The app’s official policy prohibits videos promoting self-harm and suicide. In November, President Nicolas Maduro threatened severe measures against TikTok if it did not remove content related to “criminal challenges.”
Parliament is considering laws to regulate social networks, with Maduro accusing Elon Musk, owner of social media platform X, of orchestrating attacks against Venezuela.