As the social media giant TikTok continues to face challenges from the United States government, other nations are also looking into the company’s practices. Most recently, U.K. regulators announced the platform would be fined $15.9 million for failing to protect children’s data.
The fine was announced by the U.K.’s Information Commissioner’s Office on Tuesday, noting in a statement that the fine was a result of “a number of breaches of data protection law, including failing to use children’s personal data lawfully.”
According to the regulators, 1.4 million kids under the age of 13 were allowed to use TikTok in 2020, despite the platform having age restrictions that would bar them from using the app.
The U.K. Information Commissioner, John Edwards, shared in his office’s statement that TikTok “should have known better” and “done better” when it comes to children using its app and bypassing age restrictions.
“Our [$15.9 million] fine reflects the serious impact their failures may have had. They did not do enough to check who was using their platform or take sufficient action to remove the underage children that were using their platform,” Edwards said in the statement.
The fine comes as TikTok faces a potential ban in Congress, proposed in legislation by Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO), and as it has been removed from all federal government devices.
Last month, the CEO of TikTok, Shou Zi Chew, spoke before the House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee. Chew was grilled by members of Congress, questioning his company’s ethics and its connections to China.
Chew maintained that China does not have any control over the company or user data, but lawmakers seemed convinced otherwise.
“TikTok has never shared, or received a request to share, U.S. user data with the Chinese government. Nor would TikTok honor such a request if one were ever made,” Chew said in his written testimony.
In regards to the fines from the ICO, a TikTok spokesperson shared with CNBC that the company was reviewing the decision and considering its next steps.
“While we disagree with the ICO’s decision, which relates to May 2018 - July 2020, we are pleased that the fine announced today has been reduced to under half the amount proposed last year,” the spokesperson said.
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