Popular social media platform TikTok has been fined $15.9 million (£12.7 million) for violating data protection laws by failing to safeguard the privacy of children multiple times, according to UK’s data watchdog.
According to the UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), its investigation which occurred May 2018 and July 2020 found that the video-sharing app did not take sufficient measures to verify the identity of its users and remove those who were underage.
TikTok has stated that it disagrees with the ICO’s ruling.
In a statement, UK’s information commissioner, John Edwards, said, “There are laws in place to make sure our children are as safe in the digital world as they are in the physical world. TikTok did not abide by those laws.”
The ICO stipulated that TikTok allowed an estimated 1 million children under the age of 13 to use its platform, despite their own rules to not let users in this age group to create accounts.
This meant that their data may have been used “to track them and profile them, potentially delivering harmful, inappropriate content at their very next scroll,” the ICO noted.
Under the UK data protection law, children are note banned from using the Internet. However, it requires companies that use children’s personal data to obtain consent from their parents or guardians.
In a statement, TikTok noted that while it is a platform for users aged 13 and over. they invest heavily to help keep under-13s off the app. “Our 40,000-strong safety team works around the clock to help keep the platform safe for our community.
“While we disagree with the ICO’s decision, which relates to May 2018 to July 2020, we are pleased that the fine announced today has been reduced to under half the amount proposed last year. We will continue to review the decision and are considering next steps.”
