Venezuela fines TikTok ten million dollars over teen deaths

(Patria) - Venezuela's highest court on Monday fined TikTok ten million dollars in relation to popular challenges after three teenagers died from intoxication with chemical substances.

Supreme Court of Justice Judge Tania D'Amelio said the popular video-sharing app was negligent because it did not implement "necessary and adequate measures" to stop the spread of content that encourages challenges, AFP reported.

TikTok, owned by China's ByteDance, was ordered to open an office in the South American country and was given eight days to pay the fine or face "appropriate" measures.

"Venezuela would use that money to "create a fund for TikTok victims, intended to compensate for psychological, emotional, and physical damage to users, especially if those users are children and adolescents," D'Amelio said.

The company told the court that it "understands the seriousness of the matter".

According to Venezuelan authorities, three teenagers died and 200 were found intoxicated in schools across the country after consuming chemical substances as part of social media "challenges".

TikTok's huge global success has been partly built on the success of its challenges - calls for users to create videos featuring dances, jokes, or games that sometimes go viral.

The app has been accused of endangering users by spreading dangerous challenge videos. TikTok's policy prohibits videos that promote self-harm and suicide.

In November, President Nicolas Maduro threatened "stricter measures" against TikTok if it did not remove content related to what he called "criminal challenges".

Parliament is considering laws to regulate social networks, which Maduro said were being used to promote "hatred", "fascism", and "division" after his disputed re-election in July.