TikTok guilty of collecting sensitive data from Canadian children, OPC finds

TikTok’s efforts to keep children under the age of 13 off its platform and to prevent the collection and use of children’s personal information have been deemed inadequate. The video-sharing platform has made improvements to its privacy practices.

The Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada (OPC) and provincial counterparts in Quebec, British Columbia, and Alberta launched an investigation into TikTok’s data collection practices with children.

The joint investigation team found that “hundreds of thousands” of Canadian children access TikTok every year, despite the fact that the video platform isn’t intended for people under the age of 13.

TikTok not only fails to keep underage users off its platform, but the company has also been collecting and using their personal information for online marketing practices and content targeting.

Furthermore, the joint investigation team discovered that TikTok didn’t adequately explain its data practices to teens and adults or obtain consent from users for the collection and use of user data, as required under Canadian privacy laws.

In response, TikTok promised to improve its privacy communication with users, particularly younger users, so they better understand that their data is being used for targeted advertising and content personalization.

In addition, TikTok agreed to enhance age-assurance methods to keep minors off its platform and to provide more privacy information in French.

“This [investigation] underscores important considerations for any organization subject to Canadian privacy laws that designs and develops services, particularly for younger users. As technology plays an increasingly central role in the lives of young people in Canada, we must put their best interests at the forefront so that they are enabled to safely navigate the digital world,” Philippe Dufresne, Privacy Commissioner of Canada, said in a statement.

A TikTok spokesperson told Reuters the company is pleased that the commissioners agreed to a number of its proposals to further strengthen its platform for Canadians.

“While we disagree with some of the findings, we remain committed to maintaining strong transparency and privacy practices,” the spokesperson responded, without specifying which findings the company disagrees with.

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