TikTok fined Sh1.9 billion in UK for breach of law
Video hosting service TikTok has been hit with a Kes1.9 billion ($15.9 million) fine by UK privacy regulators following its failure to protect children’s data, even as the Chinese-owned app faces heightened scrutiny from regulators and bans from nearly a dozen countries.
Regulators said TikTok allowed roughly 1.4 million children under the age of 13 to use the app in 2020, contrary to the firm’s regulations requiring users to be above this age to create a TikTok account.
In an appearance before US lawmakers in March, TikTok’s CEO Shou Xi denied that the company had any ties to Beijing and that he has ever held talks with Chinese government officials.
At the moment, TikTok has been banned in Australia, United States, Canada, Britain and New Zealand. The European Parliament, European Commission, and the EU Council, the three top EU bodies, have all banned TikTok on staff devices, citing security concerns.
