TikTok was penalised £12.7 million for using children’s data

Due to TikTok’s disregard for children’s privacy, the UK’s data authority has fined the company “£12.7 million.” More than 1.4 million UK children under the age of 13 are expected to use TikTok in 2020, according to estimates.

According to a review by the “Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO),” the video-sharing website exploited youngsters of this age’s personal information without their parents’ permission. TikTok claimed to have “spent extensively” to block access to the platform by those under the age of 13.

According to the report, children’s information may have been used to follow and profile them and maybe show them offensive or inappropriate content.

John Edwards, the commissioner of information, said: “In order to ensure that our kids are as safe online as they are offline, rules have been put in place.” TikTok did not follow these rules.

“TikTok should have been wiser.” TikTok could’ve performed better. “The potentially significant consequences of their errors are reflected in our £12.7 million fine.”

With 28 days to submit arguments, TikTok is permitted to contest the amount of the fine. The ICO could lower the overall cost if it is successful.

From the time it issues the notice of a potential fine until it issues its final decision, the regulator has a maximum of 16 weeks.

The Treasury receives whatever fines the ICO receives. But TikTok may have further worries because the UK Internet Safety Bill, which is anticipated to be passed in the coming months, calls on social networks to implement strict age verification procedures.

Firms may be penalised for violations, but a £12.7 million punishment is negligible in comparison to the $80 billion (£64 billion) in revenue that TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, a Chinese digital business, is rumoured to have expected to generate in 2022.

Due to concerns that the Chinese government may receive user data, many Western nations are taking action against TikTok.

In Canada, Belgium, Denmark, New Zealand, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, the United States, and for anyone employed by the European Commission, the app is forbidden on devices used by the government.

House members questioned TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew about the app’s security, and he attempted to reassure them that users’ data was protected.