TikTok Fined 490 Billion KRW in Europe for "Child Data Protection Violation"

Chinese video platform TikTok has been fined 345 million euros (approximately 490 billion won) by European Union (EU) regulators for failing to protect children's privacy. This is the largest fine TikTok has ever received.

Photo by AP [Image source=AP Yonhap News]

The Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC) stated on the 15th (local time) that TikTok violated the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) multiple times from July 31 to the end of 2020.

The DPC pointed out that TikTok's default setting when signing up was to make accounts public, allowing anyone to view and comment on videos created by teenagers. This setting posed risks even to children under the age of 13.

Additionally, the lack of a verification mechanism to confirm whether the 'family account connection' was with an actual parent or guardian was also highlighted as a problem.

Furthermore, the DPC stated that TikTok encouraged teenage users to select more "privacy-invasive" options when signing up.

TikTok said it does not agree with the amount of the fine and claimed that most of the issues were corrected before the investigation began in September 2021. The regulator's criticism pertains to features and settings from three years ago.

TikTok also said it will make the difference between public and private accounts clearer and will set private accounts as the default for users aged 16 to 17 when creating accounts.

The DPC is conducting a second investigation related to the transfer of users' personal data to China.