A mini version of TikTok, designed for parts of the world with slower connectivity speeds, has come under fire as a "safety hazard," according to a new report. TikTok Lite, a low-bandwidth app alternative to TikTok, lacks basic protections compared to the flagship version. These protections include content labels for graphic, AI-generated, misinformation, and dangerous acts videos, as highlighted in a report by the non-profits Mozilla and AI Forensics released on Tuesday.
Discrepancies in Safety Features
Researchers found significant discrepancies between the safety features on TikTok Lite and the primary TikTok app. Despite consuming only about 30 MB of phone data, TikTok Lite is missing essential safety features that are not technically complex to integrate. Claudio Agosti, co-founder of AI Forensics, stated, "The safety features TikTok Lite lacks aren’t complex and are perfectly compatible with a lower-bandwidth app. TikTok’s decision to ignore these safety measures is clearly a choice, not a technical necessity."
Global Impact and Usage
Top TikTok Lite users are primarily from India, Brazil, and Indonesia. The app is currently unavailable in the United States and most of Europe. The report found that, unlike TikTok, the lighter version provides no warning labels for potentially harmful content such as dangerous prank videos, graphic content, health and election-related misinformation, and AI-generated content. Additionally, TikTok Lite lacks controls like the ability to filter offensive content and unwanted keywords and screen management tools that can mitigate app addiction.
Accusations of Double Standards
Salvatore Romano, head of research at AI Forensics, expressed concerns about a possible double standard. "We wonder if there is basically a double standard depending on the countries that the platform is working with," Romano told Euronews Next. He noted that this could be problematic for countries with lower digital standards compared to Europe or the US, which have more stringent regulations.
Comparison with Other 'Lite' Apps
TikTok is not the only tech platform to launch a “lite” version targeting developing countries with basic mobile phones or slow internet connectivity. Other platforms like Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, and Tinder also have their own lite models. Despite this, the main TikTok app is available in every country where TikTok Lite can be used, and the company claims that content violating its policies is removed from TikTok Lite just as it is from the main app.
Broader Implications
The report by Mozilla and AI Forensics indicates that tech platforms often neglect non-Western users, where there is less potential for regulatory constraints and enforcement. Odanga Madungo, a Mozilla Fellow based in Kenya, argues against creating a different tech ecosystem, emphasizing the need for uniform safety standards globally.
With these findings, experts are calling for TikTok to implement the same safety features in TikTok Lite as in the main app to ensure a consistent level of protection for all users, regardless of their region.
Source: Euronews
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