TikTok Violates EU Children's Privacy Rules

The European Commission announced on Friday that TikTok has violated European Union regulations concerning children's privacy rights. An investigation found that TikTok did not adequately protect minors by allowing adults to view the accounts of users under 18. This oversight exposes children to risks such as cyberbullying, unwanted contact, and predatory behavior, according to commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier. Regnier emphasized that "children's content must never be visible to strangers" and that default settings for minors under the Digital Services Act must be effective, not merely cosmetic.

The investigation highlighted specific vulnerabilities, noting that children aged 13 to 15 can easily switch their accounts from private to public. Furthermore, private accounts of minors aged 16 to 17 are accessible to anyone on the internet. Regnier stated, "We do not accept this." This action follows a series of regulatory actions by Brussels against major technology companies like Meta and Apple.

TikTok now has the opportunity to present its defense and respond to the commission's findings. If TikTok's response is deemed insufficient, the European Commission has the authority to issue a non-compliance decision, which could result in a fine of up to 6% of the company's total annual revenue. TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, is based in Beijing.

In a statement, TikTok said it would review the commission's findings and "continue to engage constructively with the Commission." The company added, "Protecting minors online is a goal we share, and we are committed to building on our strong track record of continuous improvement." The European Commission estimates that a significant portion of TikTok's 170 million users in the EU are children, with approximately 7% of children aged 12 to 15 spending four to five hours daily on the app.