TikTok’s efforts to prevent minors from accessing its platform were found to be ineffective, with the popular social media app gathering sensitive data from underage users, according to a collaborative inquiry by Canadian privacy regulators. The investigation, led by the federal privacy commissioner along with counterparts in Quebec, British Columbia, and Alberta, examined TikTok’s data protection practices concerning young users and the adequacy of obtaining valid consent for personal information collection, usage, and disclosure.
Despite TikTok’s terms of service barring users under 13 years old (14 in Quebec), the company reportedly gathered personal details from a significant number of Canadian children due to insufficient age verification measures. The collected information was deemed sensitive by the authorities involved.
The investigation revealed that TikTok annually removes around 500,000 underage accounts but had already utilized their information for targeted advertisements and personalized content. Federal Privacy Commissioner Philippe Dufresne expressed concerns during a press briefing in Ottawa, highlighting that young individuals may be more vulnerable to privacy risks and persuasive tactics aimed at obtaining their data or influencing their behaviors.
In response to the findings, TikTok has committed to improving its age verification processes to prevent underage individuals from accessing the platform. Dufresne and his colleagues intend to monitor TikTok’s implementation of these enhancements closely.