26 September 2022 | 10:29

The UK could fine TikTok 27 million pounds ($28.91 million) after an investigation found that short video apps may violate data protection laws country, by not protecting the privacy of minors who use the platform.

Investigation revealed that TikTok can process the data of girls and boys under the age of 13 without parental consentapart from not providing appropriate information to its users in a transparent manner.

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has extended a “notice of intent” to TikTok and TikTok Information Technologies UK Ltd, UK regulators said in a statement.

Companies that provide digital services are legally required to implement such protections, but our provisional view is that TikTok does not meet those requirements.

Information Commissioner John Edwards told Reuters

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TikTok protection failed since 2018

For its part, a TikTok spokesperson told Reuters that, although social networks respect the role of regulators in maintaining data privacy in England, he disagreed with the original opinion, which would give a formal answer “in due course”.

The ICO’s provisional opinion shows that TikTok violated UK data protection laws between May 2018 and July 2020.

Last July, the United States Senate Commerce Committee choose to pass an action that will increase the age at which children receive special privacy protections.

It Changes involve protection for minors up to the age of 16in addition to banning ads directed to children by companies such as TikTok and Snapchat without consent.

With information from Reuters

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