TikTok has been fined £12.7 million by the UK’s data regulator for failing to safeguard the privacy of children.
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) found that TikTok permitted up to 1.4 million UK children under the age of 13 to use its platform in 2020, despite the minimum age requirement of 13 for creating an account.
The investigation revealed that TikTok collected and utilized the data of these underage users without parental consent.
The ICO’s investigation indicated that children’s data might have been used for tracking, profiling, and potentially exposing them to harmful or inappropriate content.
John Edwards, the Information Commissioner, stated: “There are laws designed to ensure that children are as protected online as they are offline. TikTok failed to adhere to these laws.”
He added: “As a result, an estimated one million under-13s gained inappropriate access to the platform, and TikTok collected and used their personal data. TikTok should have been more vigilant and compliant. The £12.7 million fine reflects the serious impact of their failings.”
Edwards further explained that TikTok had not taken any measures to obtain parental consent. “When users sign up, they can be targeted for advertising and their data is used in algorithms that curate content,” he noted.
“Exposure to inappropriate content can become increasingly extreme and potentially harmful for those who are too young to understand the implications and make informed decisions.”
The fine is one of the largest imposed by the ICO. A TikTok spokesperson responded, stating: “Our team of 40,000 works tirelessly to keep the platform safe.
While we disagree with the ICO’s decision, which pertains to May 2018 through July 2020, we are pleased that the fine has been reduced to less than half of the originally proposed £27 million. We are reviewing the decision and considering our next steps.”
The ICO had previously issued a “notice of intent,” suggesting TikTok could face a £27 million fine for these violations.
Professor Sonia Livingstone from the London School of Economics and Political Science, who studies children’s digital rights, expressed support for the ICO’s action but cautioned that the fine might be considered a minor expense for TikTok.
“It’s crucial that TikTok thoroughly reviews its practices and proactively ensures children’s privacy and safety in the future,” she said.
Louise Devine, who allows her 10-year-old son to use TikTok under her supervision, shared her concerns. “I monitor his posts and interactions but cannot control what he sees.
Although I wouldn’t stop him from using TikTok because all his friends are on it, having better tools to monitor his content would be preferable.”
TikTok has the option to appeal the fine and has 28 days to submit representations. If the appeal is successful, the ICO may adjust the final fine amount. The ICO has up to 16 weeks from issuing the proposed fine notice to deliver its final decision. Fines imposed by the ICO are redirected to the Treasury.
TikTok could face additional challenges as the UK Online Safety Bill, expected to pass in the coming months, will enforce stringent age verification processes for social networks.
There is speculation that companies might face fines for breaches, though the £12.7 million fine is relatively small compared to TikTok’s reported revenue of $80 billion (£64 billion) for 2022.
Meanwhile, TikTok is under global scrutiny over security concerns, with several Western countries taking measures against the app due to fears that user data could be shared with the Chinese government.
The app has been banned on government devices in Canada, Belgium, Denmark, New Zealand, Taiwan, the UK, the US, and for European Commission staff. TikTok’s CEO, Shou Zi Chew, faced intense questioning in Congress over the platform’s safety and attempted to reassure lawmakers about user data security.
