UK eyes big TikTok fine over child privacy lapse as US scrutinises data security concerns
- British watchdog has served the Chinese-owned video app group with a notice of intent that precedes a possible fine
- US lawmakers drafted preliminary agreement to resolve national security concerns but have yet to decide on potential agreement
Britain on Monday warned it could fine TikTok £27 million (US$29 million) over a potential failure to protect children’s privacy on the Chinese-owned video app.
The Information Commissioner’s Office said the social media company “may have processed the data of children under the age of 13 without appropriate parental consent”.
The ICO also found that the short-form video platform may have “failed to provide proper information to its users in a concise, transparent and easily understood way”.
The watchdog has served the group with a notice of intent – which is a legal document that precedes a possible fine – over the possible breach of UK data protection law.
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“We all want children to be able to learn and experience the digital world, but with proper data privacy protections”, said Information Commissioner John Edwards.
“Companies providing digital services have a legal duty to put those protections in place, but our provisional view is that TikTok fell short of meeting that requirement”.