The popular video-sharing service TikTok has been hit with a billion-dollar lawsuit, accusing it of mishandling data belonging to children.
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TikTok, which is owned by Chinese company ByteDance, has more than 800 million users worldwide. According to the New York Times, data from July 2020 shows that 18 million of those TikTok users were aged 14 and under.
The lawsuit against the company has been filed by Anne Longfield, former Children 's Commissioner for England, on behalf of millions of minors in the UK and the EUwho have used TikTok since May 25, 2018 (whether or not they have their own TikTok account).
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TikTok is accused of collecting children's personal data without notice, adequate transparency or consent, which is required under British and European Union law.
The children's data that the company allegedly mishandled includes biometrics, location data, videos and phone numbers.
If TikTok is found guilty, underage users could receive thousands of pounds in damages. Children who used TikTok but do not wish to be included in the lawsuit can opt out.
Longfield told the BBC that TikTok's data collection practices were "excessive" and not at all transparent compared to those of other social media companies.
“TikTok is an incredibly popular social media platform that has helped kids stay connected with their friends during an incredibly difficult year. However, behind the fun songs, dance challenges and other trends, lies something much more sinister,” Longfield said.
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According to the former Commissioner, TikTok is “a data collection service masquerading as a social network” and “deliberately and successfully deceived parents.”
Tom Southwell, a partner at law firm Scott and Scott, which brought the lawsuit against TikTok, said the social media company's data collection policies violated UK and EU data protection laws.
TikTok, for its part, said that Longfield's lawsuit against it is without merit. The agency said that privacy and security are key priorities for TikTok and that it has strong policies, procedures and technologies in place to protect all users, especially teenagers.
Source: Infosecurity Magazine
