[Venezuela’s Supreme Court Fines TikTok $10 Million for Failing to Control Viral Challenges
Venezuela’s Supreme Court has fined TikTok $10 million, accusing the video platform of failing to control the spread of viral challenges that have allegedly led to the deaths of three children. Magistrate Tania D’Amelio said the company has eight days to pay the fine to the National Communications Commission (Conatel) and establish an office in the country to represent itself.
The court did not specify what the consequences would be if TikTok does not comply with the ruling. D’Amelio said three young people had died and numerous others had been affected by these challenges, but did not offer details or refer to a specific case. In November, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro said at least two of the children had died after participating in challenges that involved inhaling toxic substances or taking anxiety medication without falling asleep.
The court ruling stated that TikTok had not implemented “the necessary and adequate measures to prevent the dissemination of publications whose content is allusive to the so-called viral challenges, violating the legal system in Venezuela.” The decision comes after the education organization Bolivarian Movement of Aristóbulo Istúriz Families filed an appeal for protection, arguing that viral challenges affect minors psychologically.
The Venezuelan government has previously issued restrictions on social media platforms. In August, Maduro announced that Conatel had suspended access to the social network X for 10 days, after its owner Elon Musk questioned the result of the presidential election on July 28. However, many Venezuelans can still access X by using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to hide their IP address.
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