📱 Introduction
TikTok Lite, a smaller version of the popular TikTok app, is under fire for lacking essential safety features. Designed for regions with slower internet speeds, TikTok Lite consumes about 30 MB of data. However, a recent report by Mozilla and AI Forensics claims it lacks basic protections found in the main app, making it a safety hazard. These missing features include content labels for graphic, AI-generated, misinformation, and dangerous acts videos.
🚨 Missing Safety Features
The report highlights that TikTok Lite lacks important safety controls, such as the ability to filter offensive content, manage screen time, and block unwanted keywords. According to Claudio Agosti, co-founder of AI Forensics, "The safety features TikTok Lite lacks aren’t complex and are perfectly compatible with a lower-bandwidth app." This raises concerns, especially as TikTok Lite's user base includes countries like India, Brazil, and Indonesia, where digital standards are often lower.
🌏 Double Standards
Experts accuse TikTok of having a "double safety standard" depending on the region. Salvatore Romano from AI Forensics stated, "We usually hear TikTok saying they are trying to do their best, but it seems they are having different standards across the world." This discrepancy is problematic for countries with fewer digital protections compared to Europe or the US. TikTok claims that content violating its rules is removed from both versions of the app, but researchers argue the enforcement is inconsistent.
💬 TikTok's Response
TikTok refutes the report's claims, calling them "factual inaccuracies." A TikTok spokesperson said, "Content that breaks our rules is removed from TikTok Lite the same way as our main app, and we offer numerous safety features." Despite these assurances, the report underscores a history of tech platforms neglecting non-Western users. Mozilla Fellow Odanga Madung from Kenya added, "The guidelines in place should also apply to smaller versions of apps." The controversy continues as regulators scrutinize TikTok's global practices.
Should TikTok Lite have the same safety features as TikTok?
