“Why TikTok’s $15.9M Fine for Misusing Kids’ Data is a Wake-up Call for Social Media Giants”

“Why TikTok’s $15.9M Fine for Misusing Kids’ Data is a Wake-up Call for Social Media Giants”

Popular social media app TikTok has been hit with a hefty £15.9 million fine by the UK watchdog for unlawfully collecting children’s data. This comes after the app had already faced scrutiny from regulators over a similar issue in the US. The UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) found that TikTok had failed to properly protect children’s data and had allowed young users to post videos publicly without adequate safeguards.

The ICO began investigating the app in 2019 after receiving a complaint from the US Federal Trade Commission, which had imposed a record $5.7 million fine on TikTok over similar concerns. Despite this, the app continued to collect data from under-13s in the UK without parental consent and failed to provide adequate protections for their information.

TikTok has since stated its commitment to ensuring the safety and privacy of its users, particularly those who are most vulnerable. It has implemented a number of measures to address these concerns, including a parental control feature that allows parents to limit the functions their children can use on the app. However, the ICO has argued that more needs to be done to guarantee that children’s personal information is sufficiently protected.

This fine serves as a warning to other social media companies that they must adhere to data protection laws and ensure that the privacy rights of children are safeguarded. The ICO has stated that it will continue to hold companies accountable for any breaches of data protection regulations and has called on other regulators to do the same.

Overall, the fine handed down to TikTok highlights the need for all social media companies to prioritize the safety and privacy of their users, especially when it comes to children. It is a reminder that companies must be held accountable for their actions, and that there are consequences for failing to protect sensitive personal information.

Key Takeaway:
– TikTok has been fined £15.9 million by the UK watchdog for unlawfully collecting children’s data without adequate protections.
– The app had already faced scrutiny from regulators in the US over similar concerns.
– TikTok has implemented a number of measures to address these concerns, but the ICO argues that more needs to be done to guarantee that children’s personal information is sufficiently protected.
– The fine serves as a warning to other social media companies that they must adhere to data protection laws and ensure that the privacy rights of children are safeguarded.

media and news source link

click here for latest tech news

You may also like...

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *