TikTok fined £12.7m for data protection breaches.
TikTok has been fined £12.7m for breaches of data protection law, including using the personal data of children aged under 13 without parental consent.
The UK Information Commissioner’s Office said the Chinese-owned video app had not done enough to check who was using its platform.
The social media app TikTok has been fined an unprecedented £12.7 million by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) for serious breaches of data protection law. This is the largest fine ever issued by ICO.
The breaches included data processing practices that violated the privacy of millions of users, including those aged under 13, and failing to obtain parental consent. The fine also includes allegations of inadequate security measures that left user data exposed.
TikTok is used by millions of users worldwide, including children. It allows users to upload and share videos, as well as comment on and like other user’s posts. The data protection breaches put these users at risk, as their personal data could be accessed without their knowledge or consent.
The ICO found that TikTok failed to protect the privacy of its users, particularly those under 13, by not obtaining parental consent for data processing activities. Additionally, the ICO found that the firm had inadequate security measures in place, leaving user data exposed to the risk of unauthorised access.
This fine serves as a warning to other social media firms, who must ensure that their data protection practices are in line with the law. Children and young people are particularly vulnerable to data protection breaches, and it is essential that firms take adequate steps to protect their data.
The ICO has made it clear that data protection is a priority, and that firms must take the necessary steps to ensure that user data is secure. This fine sends a clear message that data protection must be taken seriously, and that companies must be held to account if they fail to comply with the law.
TikTok has said that it is committed to protecting the privacy of all its users, and that it will continue to review and improve its data protection practices.
In light of this fine, it is essential that all social media firms review their data protection practices ensuring they comply with the law. Failure to do so could result in significant financial penalties.