European regulators have slapped TikTok with a $368 million fine for failing to protect children's privacy

European regulators slapped TikTok with a $368 million fine on Friday for failing to protect children’s privacy, the first time that the popular short video-sharing app has been punished for breaching Europe’s strict data privacy rules.

Ireland’s Data Protection Commission, the lead privacy regulator for Big Tech companies whose European headquarters are largely in Dublin, said it was fining TikTok 345 million euros and reprimanding the platform for the violations dating to the second half of 2020.

The investigation found that the sign-up process for teen users resulted in settings that made their accounts public by default, allowing anyone to view and comment on their videos. Those default settings also posed a risk to children under 13 who gained access to the platform even though they’re not allowed.

Also, a “family pairing" feature designed for parents to manage settings wasn’t strict enough, allowing adults to turn on direct messaging for users aged 16 and 17 without their consent. And it nudged teen users into more “privacy intrusive” options when signing up and posting videos, the watchdog said.

  • PlasmaDistortion@lemm.ee
    English
    24·
    10 months ago

    As a Product Manager of multiple apps for a FANG company, I can say they were given multiple warnings before any fine is ever given. It’s not like this would have been on oversight. This was willfully choosing to ignore the law and thinking they would just get away with it. Companies also receive more than a years notice that they need to comply so this was again not a surprise to them.

    Fine amounts are also not a surprise. They are typically a percent of revenue and anyone with a calculator can predict a fine.

    • EmpathicVagrant@lemmy.world
      9·
      10 months ago

      In the US the fine would be 10% of that, so they’re used to just getting away with slipping some pocket change and continuing with business as usual

    • JJROKCZ@lemmy.world
      English
      1311·
      10 months ago

      If the fine is less than 100% then it’s just a fee not a fine

      • deur
        99·
        10 months ago

        Fuck off with this bullshit.

      • severien@lemmy.world
        35·
        10 months ago

        What? If you’d say 100% of profit, it would make at least some sense, but 100% of revenue doesn’t make any.

        • JJROKCZ@lemmy.world
          English
          103·
          10 months ago

          It needs to be a punishment or they consider it cost of business, it we say % of profit then they start employing Hollywood style accounting where nothing is ever profitable

          • severien@lemmy.world
            22·
            10 months ago

            I’m pretty sure that TikTok can’t afford paying $400 million fine every month or so as “cost of doing business”, so they will fix the issue pretty quickly.

                • TJA!@sh.itjust.works
                  22·
                  10 months ago

                  I do not see it in the article that the fine was repeating monthly until they fix these issues? Can you show me where it says that?

                • JJROKCZ@lemmy.world
                  English
                  23·
                  10 months ago

                  Because it is, they made so much more than that and have harmed these kids lives by hooking them into social media so early

              • severien@lemmy.world
                3·
                10 months ago

                They are going to get fined until they fix the problem. The interval is not defined, it’s up to the discretion of the office.