TikTok is being fined $368 million under Europe's strict data protection rules!
See also: TikTok: How to remove the profile picture from your account?
TikTok was fined $368 million by European regulators on Friday for failing to protect children's privacy, the first time the popular video-sharing app has been penalized for violating strict European data protection rules.
See also: TikTok Shop is now open for use
The Data Protection Commission of Ireland, the main privacy regulator for Big Tech companies whose European headquarters are largely in Dublin, said it had imposed a €345 million fine on TikTok and reprimanded the platform for breaches dating back to the second half of 2020.
The investigation found that the sign-up process for teen users resulted in their accounts being made public by default, allowing anyone to view and comment on their videos. These defaults also posed a risk to children under 13 who accessed the platform despite not being allowed to.
Additionally, a “family pairing” feature designed for parents who want to manage settings was not strict enough, allowing adults to enable direct messaging for users aged 16 and 17 without their consent. It also led teenage users to make more “invasive” privacy choices when recording and posting videos, the watchdog said.
TikTok said it disagrees with the decision, “particularly with the amount of the fine imposed.”
The company noted that the regulator's criticisms focused on features and settings that date back three years. TikTok said it had made changes well before the investigation began in September 2021, including defaulting to privacy for all accounts of teens under 16 and disabling direct messages for 13-15 year olds.
TikTok has faced accusations of being a security risk with fears that sensitive user information could end up in China. It has embarked on a drive to localize user data from Europe to address those concerns: it opened a data center in Dublin this month, which will be the first of three in mainland Europe.
Instagram , WhatsApp and Meta are among other tech giants that have been hit with large fines by the Irish regulator in the past year.
Source of information: abcnews.go.com
