UK fined TikTok nearly USD 16 million

TikTok, the Chinese-owned video-sharing platform of Bytedance, has been hit with a whopping $15.9 million punishment for violating data privacy regulations by the UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). The well-known video-sharing website was penalized in 2020 for breaking its own regulations by enabling more than a million youngsters under the age of 13 to use the program. TikTok has been charged with failing to adequately check users’ ages and failing to adequately inform users of the collection and use of their personal data. TikTok violated the data protection law by failing to take the necessary precautions to stop minors from using its app between May 2018 and July 2020. TikTok, according to UK Information Commissioner John Edwards, violates the regulations set up to protect children’s safety online.

NewsOTG gathered that the TikTok representative disagreed with the ICO’s decision and said that the firm has made significant investments to prevent users under the age of 13 off the platform. The representative also stated that a 24-hour safety team is on duty to maintain the platform’s community’s safety. A number of Western nations have outlawed the Chinese-owned video streaming service, prompting the $15.9 million penalties. The software has already been blocked in India, Australia, France, UK, Canada, New Zealand, and all other countries with access to their national legislatures. According to the Attorney-General of Australia, the use of TikTok on government-owned devices will be prohibited due to security reasons. TikTok continues to be among the most widely used social media platforms worldwide despite rising competition.

With an estimated 1 billion monthly active users worldwide, the corporation has been growing its footprint in the market. Businesses target TikTok’s younger audience on the site, which has grown to be a well-liked advertising medium. Recently, TikTok has been under fire from regulators all over the world, with some accusing the app of sharing user data with the Chinese government. These accusations have been refuted by the platform, which asserts that its data centers are in the US and Singapore and that it maintains customer data elsewhere outside of China. The platform’s future is still in doubt as more nations consider outlawing it for security reasons.