TikTok has been fined €530 million ($600 million) by Ireland’s Data Protection Commission (DPC) for violating the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) by unlawfully transferring European users’ data to China. This penalty, one of the largest ever under the GDPR, follows a four-year investigation into TikTok’s data handling practices.
Key Findings:
- Unauthorized Data Transfers: The DPC found that TikTok allowed employees in China to access European users’ personal data without ensuring protections equivalent to EU standards, breaching Articles 46(1) and 13(1)(f) of the GDPR.
- Lack of Transparency: Between 2020 and 2022, TikTok failed to inform users that their data could be accessed from China, leading to a €45 million portion of the total fine.
- Contradictory Statements: Initially, TikTok claimed that European user data was not stored in China. However, during the investigation, the company admitted that some data had been stored there before being deleted, contradicting earlier assurances.
The DPC has ordered TikTok to bring its data processing activities into compliance with the GDPR within six months. Failure to do so will result in the suspension of all data transfers to China.
TikTok plans to appeal the decision, asserting that it has implemented measures to enhance data security, including the establishment of regional data centers and independent monitoring. The company maintains that it has never provided European user data to Chinese authorities and uses standard legal mechanisms for data transfers.
This is TikTok’s second major fine by the DPC. In 2023, the company was fined €345 million for mishandling children’s data, including setting teen accounts to public by default and allowing unverified adults to enable direct messaging for users aged 16 and 17.
The latest fine intensifies scrutiny of TikTok’s data practices amid global concerns over data privacy and national security. In the United States, legislation passed in 2024 requires ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, to divest its U.S. operations or face a ban, with a deadline extended to June 19.
As regulatory pressures mount, TikTok’s compliance with data protection laws remains under close observation, with potential implications for its operations in Europe and beyond.
Written By Queen Diana Story
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