Venezuela Imposes $10M Fine On TikTok Over Deadly Viral Challenges

Venezuela fines TikTok $10 million for failing to curb dangerous viral challenges that led to three teenage deaths and hundreds of poisonings.

Venezuela’s Supreme Tribunal of Justice has fined TikTok $10 million, citing negligence in controlling viral challenges on its platform that resulted in the deaths of three teenagers and left over 200 people intoxicated. Judge Tania D’Amelio, representing the Supreme Court, announced the decision on December 30, 2024, emphasizing that the video-sharing platform failed to implement adequate measures to prevent the spread of harmful contenthttps://www.vanguardngr.com/2024/12/venezuela-fines-tiktok-10m-after-over-viral-challenge-deaths/.

TikTok, owned by Chinese tech giant ByteDance, has been instructed to establish an office in Venezuela and must pay the fine within eight days to avoid further legal action. The funds will be used to create a TikTok Victims Fund aimed at compensating individuals—particularly children and adolescents—who have suffered psychological, emotional, or physical harm due to unsafe content.

The app, known for its viral challenges involving dances, games, and creative content, has faced global criticism for allowing hazardous videos to circulate. According to Venezuelan authorities, the fatal challenges prompted adolescents to ingest dangerous chemicals, leading to tragic outcomes.

While TikTok’s policies explicitly ban content promoting self-harm or suicide, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has criticized the platform for enabling “criminal challenges.” In November, Maduro warned of severe consequences if TikTok failed to remove harmful content.

The Venezuelan government is now drafting laws to regulate social media platforms, which Maduro claims have been weaponized to incite hate and division. The President has also accused Elon Musk, owner of X (formerly Twitter), of launching coordinated attacks against Venezuela via social media.

As TikTok faces increasing scrutiny in Venezuela, the case highlights the growing demand for accountability in the digital space, particularly concerning the safety of young users.