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TikTok receives data privacy probes from EU regulator

TikTok receives data privacy probes from EU regulator

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Lead data privacy regulator in the European Union (EU) has kicked off two inquiries into TikTok about the processing of children's personal data and transfers of personal data to China.  According to a statement from Ireland's Data Protection Commission (DPC), which is lead EU regulator for many top internet firms in the world, the first inquiry will examine TikTok’s compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation's (GDPR) data protection by design and default requirements, as they relate to the processing of personal data in the context of platform settings for users under the age of 18 and age verification measures for persons under 13 years old.

This inquiry will also examine whether TikTok has complied with the GDPR’s transparency obligations in the context of the processing of personal data of users under age 18. Also, the second inquiry will focus on transfers by TikTok of personal data to China and TikTok’s compliance with the GDPR’s requirements for transfers of personal data to third countries. In a Reuters report, a spokesperson for TikTok said it had implemented extensive policies and controls to safeguard user data and relied on approved methods for data being transferred from Europe, such as standard contractual clauses, adding that the privacy and safety of the TikTok community, particularly the youngest members, is the company's highest priority.

MARKETING-INTERACTIVE has reached out to TikTok for more details. 

In August, DPC fined WhatsApp US$265.64 million for breaking EU rules on user privacy and failing to meet its transparency obligations. It said that WhatsApp in Ireland had failed to provide the necessary data protection information to users. The punishment was the largest fine ever issued by the DPC and the second-largest imposed on an organisation under EU data protection laws.

TikTok was involved in other controversies before. Recent research findings have revealed that Tiktok influencers in the US are receiving compensation for disseminating political messages despite Tiktok’s move to ban political ads on its platform in 2019. According to research done by the organisation that built Firefox, Mozilla, Tiktok does not actively monitor and enforce its rule that influencers disclose paid partnerships, nor does the platform label sponsored posts as advertising.

In its report, Mozilla listed three recommendations for the social media platform. It asked Tiktok to develop effective self-disclosure mechanisms for creators; invest in implementing advertising transparency on the platform; and update its policies and enforcement processes on political advertisements.

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