TikTok
EU data protection officers impose a 345 million euro fine
Was the data of young users on TikTok inadequately protected?
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Lack of data protection on TikTok? There are allegations against the app operator again – this time with a fine of 345 million euros.
The TikTok makers probably don’t feel like dancing and singing right now: Irish data protection officers, acting on behalf of the EU, have found massive violations of the European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) by the globally popular TikTok app and the Chinese company ByteDance, which is behind TikTok imposed a fine of 345 million euros. The allegations are primarily about insufficiently protected data of young users. According to consistent media reports, TikTok denies the allegations.
Allegations of data theft by TikTok
Since its launch on August 2, 2018, TikTok has experienced rapid success. And this despite the fact that there have always been concerns about data protection for their users right from the start. The American authorities regularly consider blocking the app in the USA. It is said that TikTok is a gateway for China to steal data. Also the EU is keeping a close eye on the app. This is one of the reasons why the European Data Protection Commission was created on the basis of the Europe-wide General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) issued in 2016.
Contributions from underage users not sufficiently protected?
On behalf of the Commission, Irish data protection officers recently looked into data protection on TikTok – and came to a less than pleasant conclusion: Due to insufficient default settings, video contributions from users in the 13 to 17 year old age group were in the second half of 2020 visible to all TikTok users worldwide. According to the Irish Data Protection Authority, the platform made errors in the registration and age verification of its users and thus inadequately protected the sensitive content of minors. TikTok denies the allegations. Incorrect settings from back then have now been fixed. Legal action against the hefty penalty is being examined.
TikTok – the digital mass phenomenon
TikTok currently has 1.677 billion users worldwide, around a billion of whom use the app regularly. As part of the fine of 345 million euros, the TikTok Group was asked to bring its data processing into line with the GDPR within three months. The Facebook group Meta has held the record for a fine based on the GDPR since May of this year. A fine of 1.2 billion euros was imposed on him.