Today’s hot news concerns the social network TikTok, which was fined a record 345 million euros by the European Union. This decision follows an investigation by the Irish Data Protection Commission into the processing of information and personal data of minor users on the platform.
The fine was imposed on TikTok Technology Limited, a subsidiary of the Chinese company ByteDance, which currently has hundreds of millions of users worldwide. The alleged offenses took place between July and December 2020.
The main violations found by the Irish authority relate to the way in which the children’s accounts were configured as public by default. In addition, the “family connection” mode allowing the accounts of parents and children to be linked was not adequately verified. Finally, TikTok would not have taken into account the risks incurred by minor users despite the minimum age requirement of 13 years.
TikTok reacted to this fine by expressing its disagreement, particularly with regard to the amount of the fine. The company claimed to have made changes to its features and settings since the period covered by the investigation.
This sanction comes on top of other fines already imposed on TikTok in other countries, notably in the United States, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. These incidents illustrate the risks to which minor users are exposed on social networks, as well as the need for platforms to put in place adequate protection measures.
This decision by the European Union comes against a backdrop of strengthening control and regulation measures for technology giants, both in Europe and the United States. TikTok and other similar platforms will now have to ensure user age verification and parental consent for users under 15, in line with French legislation passed last June.
In conclusion, this record fine imposed on TikTok highlights the importance of protecting minor users on social networks. Platforms must ensure that rigorous measures are put in place to guarantee the security and confidentiality of user information, particularly younger users. The European Union’s decision constitutes a clear warning to companies in the sector, urging them to respect the rules on data protection and the protection of minors.