For 2020 it was a year in which, in addition to promoting its growth worldwide, it also represented serious challenges, which even threatened the very existence of the application, or at least in some countries such as the United States, but despite the fact that the social network h, the platform is still under scrutiny, since TikTok could face legal, now in due to concerns about its impact on younger users and the security of their data on the platform.
TikTok could legally take on a London girl in the coming weeks
In accordance with , “TikTok could legally take on a 12-year-old London girl.” The girl, who will remain anonymous while she files her lawsuit against the micro-video app, says that the app has violated the data protection regulations of the European Union.
Through her legal representatives, the minor “plan to file a lawsuit damages against six companies allegedly responsible for TikTok and its predecessor application for loss of control of personal data”.
According to a ruling of the High Court of London, it is noted that the companies cited “misused the claimant’s private information, processing your personal data in violation of the data protection laws of the European Union and the United Kingdom”.
The Children’s Commissioner for England, Anne Longfield will file this lawsuitOn behalf of everyone under the age of 16 who uses TikTok.” because “the personal data in question is used in an algorithm that analyzes the preferences of the user in order to adapt the content presented to them in order to capture and maintain their attention, which in turn encourages the use of the app and, although it is established in the terms of service that is not for children under 13, it is clear that a large number of users are minors”.
Among these personal data are “usernames, dates of birth and location, as well as photos and videos that users have shared, and even device information, IP address, information from connected accounts such as Facebook, browsing history, cookies and metadata”.
The data of young users: the biggest concern of regulators around TikTok
This is the latest of many legal scrutiny that have been brought against TikTok around the security of user data.
In fact, this same 2021 by alleged privacy vulnerability, citing the urgent need to “protect Italian minors”, while in early 2020, the European network of privacy regulators, EDPB, launched an investigation group into TikTok’s data practices.
In 2019, the United States Federal Trade Commission fined TikTok for illegally collecting the names, email addresses, photographs and locations of children under 13 years of age, in addition, in July of that same year, the United Kingdom Information Commissioner initiated a investigation into how TikTok handles the personal data of its young users.
In August last year, French officials announced an investigation into TikTok’s data collection practices, specifically due to concerns about its measures to protect younger users.
However, last October the Telecommunications Authority in Pakistan because it presented “immoral and indecent content” available to young users. TikTok implemented changes to its app and the ban was lifted soon after.
The app has proven to be successful, so much so that has managed to become a real challenge However, until it can ensure the protection of its youngest users and allay concerns about data sharing, doubt will permeate the app.
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