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Italian authorities have fined TikTok, the Chinese short-form video platform, 10 million euros (approximately $10.8 million) for failing to protect minors from harmful content. Meanwhile, in the United States Congress, passing a “bill that could ban TikTok,” justified on the grounds of national security, is gaining momentum, intensifying the Western restriction on TikTok.
According to Reuters and other sources, the Italian Competition Authority (Italian: Autorità Garante della Concorrenza e del Mercato, AGCM) made such a decision on the 14th (local time), saying “TikTok did not properly monitor content that could pose a potential threat to minors and vulnerable groups.” They criticized TikTok’s safety guidelines for failing to consider the vulnerabilities of young users.
When the “French Scar Challenge,” which involved teenagers pinching their own cheeks to create bruises, became popular on TikTok in Italy last year, the AGCM investigated whether the platform neglected the issue. A TikTok spokesperson said, “We do not agree with the AGCM’s decision,” and claimed they had “already restricted viewing of the French Scar Challenge a long time ago.”
The Canadian government is also investigating the impact of TikTok’s business expansion within the country on national security. According to Canadian law, the government can assess the potential foreign investment risk to national security. Therefore, the Canadian Ministry of Industry will focus on TikTok’s investment plans and closely examine any risk factors. The U.S. House of Representatives has passed the so-called “TikTok Expulsion Act,” which bans TikTok’s operations in the US unless its Chinese owner, ByteDance, sells TikTok within six months. President Joe Biden has expressed his intention to sign the bill if it passes the Senate. It has been reported that former U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, who leads Liberty Strategic Capital, is gathering an investor group to acquire TikTok.
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