TikTok is fined £12.7m for misusing children's data

TikTok has been fined £12.7m by the UK's data watchdog for failing to protect the privacy of children. Estimates prove that TikTok had allowed up to 1.4 million UK children aged under 13 to use the platform in 2020.

 

TikTok said it had "invested heavily" to stop under-13s accessing the site although the ICO said for many the site is accessible despite TikTok setting 13 as the minimum age to create an account. It said that children's data may have been used to track and profile them, and potentially present them with harmful or inappropriate content.

 

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."

 

"As a consequence, an estimated one million under-13s were inappropriately granted access to the platform, with TikTok collecting and using their personal data."TikTok should have known better. TikTok should have done better. Our £12.7m fine reflects the serious impact their failures may have had." He further declared.

source: BBC News