Venezuela imposes $10M fine on TikTok over viral challenges linked to child deaths
On December 30, Venezuela's Supreme Court fined TikTok $10 million. They accused the platform of not stopping viral challenges. These challenges have reportedly caused the deaths of three children in recent months. The court, run by the government, accused TikTok of being careless. It ordered the platform to open an office in Venezuela. This office must make sure its content follows local laws.
The case stemmed from incidents involving TikTok challenges that encouraged dangerous activities. Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro blamed TikTok for the death of a 12-year-old girl. She reportedly took tranquilizer pills during one of the challenges.
Accusations against TikTok continue to mount
Venezuela's Education Minister, Héctor Rodríguez, mentioned the death of a 14-year-old child. The child inhaled harmful substances during a TikTok challenge. On November 21, Attorney General Tarek William Saab announced that a third child has died. This child had similar problems on the platform.
Judge Tania D'Amelio stated that TikTok did not do enough to prevent harmful content from spreading.
The court ordered TikTok to pay a $10 million fine within eight days. This money will help create a fund for the affected families.
TikTok has not yet responded to the ruling or made any public comment.
Venezuela’s growing social media crackdown
The Venezuelan government’s actions against TikTok are part of a broader effort to regulate social media platforms. In recent years, the country has blocked multiple websites, including platforms critical of the government.
In early 2025, Venezuela briefly blocked access to X, which was once called Twitter. They accused Elon Musk, the owner, of supporting anti-government actions.
TikTok has rules against content that promotes self-harm and dangerous behaviors. However, Venezuelan officials say the platform does not enforce these rules well. This case has led lawmakers to consider stricter regulations targeting social media platforms operating in Venezuela.
Venezuela is trying to hold digital platforms accountable for harmful content. They fined TikTok and ordered it to follow local laws. This has reignited discussions about online regulation and the responsibilities of digital platforms in the ever-evolving digital landscape.
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