PanamaTimes

Thursday, Mar 28, 2024

Social media giant TikTok sued by former children's commissioner over 'shady' data collection policy

Social media giant TikTok sued by former children's commissioner over 'shady' data collection policy

Anna Longfield is calling on TikTok to protect under-13s who use the app. Damages in the case could run into billions of pounds.

The former children's commissioner for England has launched legal proceedings on behalf of 3.5 million children under 13 against TikTok.

Anne Longfield has alleged that the social media platform has illegally collected personal data from millions of children since May 2018 - when General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) was introduced.

The lawsuit is seeking compensation for millions of potentially affected children, which Ms Longfield said could run into billions of pounds.

The claim argues that TikTok, which was founded by Chinese Company ByteDance, breached data protection rules wilfully, taking children's personal information without warning, transparency or the necessary consent.

It is also alleged that personal data was collected without the knowledge of parents and children.

This is the latest development in the lawsuit against the video-sharing app after the High Court ruled in December that a 12-year-old girl, who was supported by Ms Longfield, could bring the dispute with TikTok anonymously.

TikTok policies in the UK do not allow children under 13 to use the app and those downloading it are asked to input their age when they join.

Figures suggest that many under-13s use the platform.

Ms Longfield said she felt the app's data collection policies, in general, were "excessive for a video-sharing app" but was most troubled by the "collection of data on an industrial scale without either the kids or the parents realising".

TikTok's data collection policy is listed on its website, but Ms Longfield said she felt its practices were "hidden" and "shady".

"In terms of what they take there are addresses, names, date of birth information, their likes, their interests, who they follow, their habits - all of these - the profiling stuff, but also the exact geolocation, that is very much outside what would be deemed appropriate," she said.

"You shouldn't be doing that when it's kids."

Ms Longfield has accused TikTok of being "deliberately opaque" about who has access to data, but notes the company makes billions from advertising revenue generated by providing user information to advertisers.

A TikTok spokesperson said: "Privacy and safety are top priorities for TikTok and we have robust policies, processes and technologies in place to help protect all users and our teenage users in particular.

"We believe the claims lack merit and intend to vigorously defend the action."

Ms Longfield, who has instructed US litigation specialists Scott+Scott, hopes it would be a "powerful test case" which would be a "wake-up call" for other social media platforms.

She added that she hoped to force TikTok to delete the data and put new measures in place to protect children.

"I'd like to see them acknowledge the problem, stop collecting the illegal data, delete the illegal data they have and put safeguards in place, so they can demonstrate that they're acting responsibly," she said.

"I'd like to see them reassure parents - they have introduced some measures over recent months - great, I'm pleased when people take action, but while this is absolutely at the core of what the business model is, any action won't get to the heart of what needs to be done.

"So I think they need to communicate that to parents, they need to stop doing it, they need to delete it and put measures in place and then look at how they're going to rebuild trust - I think that really is what we're talking about."

TikTok is one of the world's most popular apps - especially among youngsters -- and has around 100 million users in Europe alone.

The COVID-19 pandemic, with many children having online learning at home, has helped cement its success.

In January, TikTok tightened privacy rules to protect under-16s, with any accounts for those under the age of 16 changed to private.

Newsletter

Related Articles

PanamaTimes
0:00
0:00
Close
Apple warns against drying iPhones with rice
In a recent High Court hearing, the U.S. argued that Julian Assange endangered lives by releasing classified information.
Global Law Enforcement Dismantles Lockbit Ransomware Operation
Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny has died at the Arctic prison colony
The President of Argentina Javier Mile does not fly private, he flies commercial, with the citizens he represents. And they LOVE him for it.
Bitcoin Reaches $50,000 for First Time in Over Two Years
Belo Horizonte: Brazil's Rising Carnival Hotspot for 2024
In El Salvador, the 'Trump of Latin America' stuns the world with a speech slamming woke policing after winning a landslide election
Tucker’s interview with Putin is over 50M views on X within the first 5 hours.
Finnish Airline, Finnair, is voluntarily weighing passengers to better estimate flight cargo weight
President Nayib Bukele has proudly announced El Salvador's remarkable achievement of becoming the safest nation in the Western Hemisphere.
Former Chilean President Sebastian Piñera Dies in Helicopter Crash
This farmer seems to understand science a bit more than the event organizer, Klaus Schwab.
Facebook turns 20: From Mark Zuckerberg's dormitory to a $1trn company
The Coolest Dictator in the World" on the Path to Victory in El Salvador
Macron, France and fake news
Indian-Origin Man 'King' Arrested For Smuggling $16 Million Drugs Into US
Can someone teach Americans that not every person with slanted eyes is Chinese?
Europe's Farmers Feeding the People, Protesting Against Politicians Who Do Nothing for Their Country and Serve Only Themselves at Taxpayers' Expense
Paris Restaurant That Inspired 'Ratatouille' Loses $1.6 Million Worth Of Wine
Brazilian Police Investigate Bolsonaro's Son for Alleged Illegal Spying
Police in Brazil Raid Residence of Bolsonaro Associate Over Allegations of Illegal Spying
Border Dispute Escalates as Texas Governor Vows Increased Razor Wire
OpenAI Enhances ChatGPT-4 Model, Potentially Addressing AI "Laziness" Issue
The NSA finally acknowledges spying on Americans by acquiring sensitive data
Report Reveals Toxic Telegram Group Generating X-Rated AI-Generated Fake Images of Taylor Swift
US Border Patrol States 'No Plans' to Remove Razor Wire Installed in Texas
Bitcoin Experiences Approximately 20% Decline in Value
Klaus Schwab recently appointed himself as the Earth's "trustee of the future."
DeSantis Drops Out, Endorses Trump.
Nikki Haley said former President Trump is "just not at the same level" of mental fitness as he was while president in 2016.
Residents of a southern Mexican town set the government palace on fire in response to the police killing of a young man
Samsung Launches AI-Driven Galaxy S24, Ushering in New Smartphone Era
Judge Questions SEC's Regulatory Overreach in Coinbase Lawsuit
The Ecuador prosecutor who was investigating the television studio attack, has been assassinated.
Is artificial intelligence the solution to cyber security threats?
Vivek Ramaswamy suspends his US election campaign and endorses Trump.
Viral Satire: A Staged Satirical Clip Mistaken as Real Footage from the 2024 World Economic Forum in Davos
The AI Revolution in the Workforce: CEOs at Davos Predict Major Job Cuts in 2024
Ecuador Reports 178 Hostages in Prison Gang Standoff
The Startling Cuban Espionage Case That Has Rattled the US Government
Two Armed Men in Ecuador, Dressed as Batman and The Joker Storm the Streets.
Armed Gang Raids Ecuadorian TV Station Following State of Emergency Declaration
Anti-Democratic Canada: Journalist Arrested for Questioning Canadian Finance Minister on Support of Terrorist Group
Ecuador's 'Most-Wanted' Criminal Vanishes from Prison
Mexican Cartel Supplied Wi-Fi to Locals Under Threat of Fatal Consequences for Non-Compliance
Border Surge Leads to Over 11,000 Migrants Waiting in Northern Mexico
Outsider Candidates Triumph in Latin American Elections
As Argentina Goes to the Polls, Will the Proposal to Replace the Peso with the Dollar Secure Votes?
Fatal Shark Attack Claims Life of Boston Woman Paddleboarding Near Bahamas Resort, According to Police
×