In a significant development, TikTok, the popular social media platform, has been slapped with a hefty €345 million fine by the Irish Data Protection Commissioner. This substantial penalty comes as a result of the alleged mishandling of personal data concerning child users during the period from July to December 2020.
The Data Protection Commissioner’s investigation focused on various aspects, including platform settings tailored for child users, age verification protocols, and the transparency of information provided to children. The probe uncovered several violations of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and subsequently mandated corrective actions.
TikTok has been instructed to align its data processing practices with regulatory standards within three months, while also bearing a substantial financial penalty.
This ruling underscores the growing importance of stringent data protection measures, particularly concerning young users, in the digital age. TikTok is expected to take swift measures to rectify its compliance and data handling procedures.