UK could fine TikTok $29 million for failing to protect children’s privacy

Britain warned on Monday it could fine China-owned video app TikTok up to £27 million ($29 million) for possible failures to protect children’s privacy.

According to a statement from the Information Commissioner’s Office, the social media company may have “processed data of children under 13 years of age without appropriate parental consent”.

The ICO also found that the short video platform “may fail to provide appropriate information to its users in a comprehensive, transparent and easily understood manner”.

The watchdog has served the group with a notice of intent, a legal document that precedes possible fines, over a possible breach of UK data protection law.

“Our priority is for children to be able to learn and experience the digital world, but with appropriate data privacy protections,” said Information Commissioner John Edwards.

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“Companies providing digital services have a legal duty to implement these safeguards, but our tentative view is that TikTok failed to meet this requirement.” TikTok management responded by saying that it disagreed with the ICO’s tentative views and emphasized that no final conclusion had been reached.

“While we respect the ICO’s role in protecting privacy in the UK, we disagree with the initial views expressed and intend to formally respond to the ICO in due course,” TikTok said in a statement. TikTok said in a statement.