Venezuelan authorities have imposed a $10 million fine on TikTok for failing to prevent dangerous video challenges, which have allegedly led to the deaths of three children. Judge Tania D’Amelio accused the platform of negligence and mandated that TikTok establish a local office in Venezuela within eight days to ensure content compliance with national laws.
President Nicolas Maduro has publicly criticized TikTok, holding it accountable for the death of a 12-year-old girl who reportedly participated in a challenge involving tranquilizer pills. Additional fatalities, including a 14-year-old who inhaled substances as part of a similar challenge, have been attributed to viral trends on the platform.
Venezuela’s Supreme Court warned that TikTok’s parent company, based in China, must address these issues, though it remains unclear how the fine will be enforced.
The country has a history of regulating and blocking websites that fail to align with government policies, including recent measures against over 60 platforms. Social media platforms such as X (formerly Twitter) have also faced restrictions after being accused of hosting anti-government campaigns.
Despite government censorship, privately operated internet providers now offer access to some banned platforms, highlighting ongoing tensions between freedom of expression and government control in Venezuela.
