Italy's Competition and Market Authority has fined the social media platform TikTok €10 million for sharing videos depicting self-harm behavior during the year 2023, as reported by the Italian news agency Ansa.
In recent days, videos posted by some users on TikTok have circulated, showing dangerous methods to create scars on the face, using finger bites or tape rolls.
The issue lies in these videos garnering hundreds of thousands of views on the social network, particularly popular among young people and children.
The authority stated in a press release that the penalty affects three companies within the Bytedance group, including those based in Ireland, the United Kingdom, and Italy.
According to the text, the investigation confirmed the social network's responsibility for disseminating content such as the "French Scar Challenge," which poses risks to users' mental and physical safety.
It also pointed out that the company failed to take necessary measures to prevent the disclosure of this content, highlighting a lack of consideration for teenagers' vulnerabilities.
Additionally, it evaluated the user-based recommendation system to increase interactions and time spent on the platform.
It is worth noting that legislation aimed at banning TikTok in the United States faces political obstacles and constitutional concerns in the US Senate, following its approval in the House of Representatives.
The US House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed a measure, forcing the Chinese-owned company ByteDance, the owner of TikTok, to sell its shares in the app, or face a ban, describing it as a sudden blitz after years of unsuccessful negotiations over the platform's fate.
The legislation was approved by a majority of 352 votes against 65, representing a significant rebuke from both parties to the app, and an attempt to address allegations that ByteDance poses risks to US national security.
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