Web desk (LTN NEWS): On Monday, Britain said it could fine the Chinese-owned video app TikTok £27 million ($29 million) for not protecting the privacy of children who use it.
The Information Commissioner’s Office said that the social media company “may have processed the data of children under 13 without appropriate parental consent.”
The ICO also found that the short-form video platform might not have given its users the right information in a way that was clear, concise, and easy to understand.
The group has been given a notice of intent, which is a legal document that comes before a possible fine. This is because the group may have broken UK data protection law.
Information Commissioner John Edwards said, “We all want kids to be able to learn about and explore the digital world, but we also want to make sure their privacy is protected.”
“Companies that offer digital services are required by law to put these protections in place, but our initial assessment is that TikTok didn’t do enough to meet this requirement.”
TikTok said it didn’t agree with the ICO’s initial thoughts and emphasised that no final decisions had been made.
TikTok said in a statement, “While we respect the ICO’s role in protecting privacy in the UK, we disagree with the preliminary views expressed and will respond formally to the ICO when the time is right.”
