TikTok fined £12.7m for misusing children’s data

Up to 1.4 million UK youngsters under the age of 13 were reportedly permitted to use TikTok in 2020.

According to an inquiry by the Information Commissioner’s Office, the video-sharing website exploited the data of children of this age without getting permission from their parents (ICO).

To prevent access by those under the age of 13, TikTok claimed to have “spent heavily.”

Although TikTok established 13 as the minimum age to register an account, the ICO said that numerous people were still able to access the website.

It said that information about minors may have been used to follow and profile them and possibly show them offensive or inappropriate stuff.

John Edwards, the information commissioner, said: “There are regulations in place to guarantee that our kids are just as protected online as they are offline. TikTok disregarded those rules.

“As a result, TikTok improperly allowed access to the platform to an estimated million under-13s, who had their personal information collected and used.

“TikTok ought to have been wiser. TikTok ought to have performed better. Our £12.7 million fine underscores the potentially significant consequences of their failures.”

He then admitted to BBC News that TikTok had “made no steps” to secure parental permission.

“When you sign up, you may be profiled and targeted for advertising, and your data feed an algorithm that generates content,” he said.

“It can become more and more extreme if you’ve been viewing information that isn’t suitable for your age.

For those who are too young to completely understand the implications and to make wise decisions, it can be highly detrimental.

Reduced fine

One of the highest fines the ICO has ever imposed.

“Our 40,000-strong safety team works around the clock to help keep the platform secure for our community,” a TikTok spokeswoman told the BBC.

“While we don’t agree with the ICO’s judgment, which applies to May 2018 through July 2020, we are happy that the fine announced today has been cut in half from what was originally suggested. We are deliberating the decision’s implications and our next measures.”

The watchdog had previously sent TikTok a “notice of intent” — a warning before imposing a possible fine — stating that TikTok may be subject to a £27 million fine for these violations.

of Sonia Livingstone, a researcher at the London School of Economics and Political Science who focuses on children’s digital rights and experiences, told the BBC that while it was “great the ICO is taking action,” she was concerned that the fine amount might be “shrugged off as the cost of doing business.” Let’s hope TikTok properly examines its procedures and ensures that it guards children’s safety and privacy going forward.

According to Louise Devine, she permits her 10-year-old son to use TikTok while keeping an eye on him.

Trouble for TikTok

TikTok has 28 days to submit arguments in an appeal against the amount of the fine. If the ICO is a success, the total cost can be decreased.

From the time the regulator issues the notice of a proposed fine until it renders its decision, it has a maximum of 16 weeks.

Fines paid to the ICO are returned to the Treasury.

But, TikTok may have further worries because the UK Internet Safety Bill, which is expected to be passed in the coming months, mandates stringent age verification procedures for social networks.

It has been speculated that businesses will be penalized for violations, however, a £12.7 million fine pales in comparison to the $80 billion (£64 billion) in revenue that TikTok’s parent company ByteDance, a Chinese digital company, is estimated to have generated in 2022.

And it happens at a time when the platform is already under intense international investigation for security reasons.

Because of concerns that user data may be shared with the Chinese government, numerous Western nations are taking action against TikTok.

In Canada, Belgium, Denmark, New Zealand, Taiwan, the UK, the US, and for anyone employed by the European Commission, the app has been outlawed on government-owned smartphones.

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