The UK’s data protection commissioner has slammed TikTok with a hefty fine of £12.7m (€14.5m) for “misusing” children’s data. This comes as a result of the social media network failing to prevent kids aged under 13 from accessing the platform and using personal data without parental approval.
TikTok insists it does not permit children under 13 to use its platform, yet the UK regulator found its measures to prevent them from doing so were inadequate.
A survey of 4,500 primary school students in Ireland conducted by CyberSafeKids revealed that 47% of 8-12 year-olds were using TikTok, with almost half of them posting videos of themselves on the platform.
The UK fine comes as TikTok awaits the results of two separate investigations from the Irish Data Protection Commissioner’s office, which look at whether the tech giant is appropriately handling minors’ personal data. The outcome of these investigations is expected in the coming months.
John Edwards, the UK Information Commissioner, declared: “There are laws in place to make sure our children are as safe in the digital world as they are in the physical world. However, TikTok has not abided by those laws. An estimated one million under 13s were wrongly granted access to the platform, with their data being tracked and profiled, potentially leading to harmful and inappropriate content. TikTok should have known better and taken more action to remove these underage children from the platform.”
