TikTok Netherlands fined for violating child privacy

The Dutch Data Protection Authority (Autoriteit Persoonsgegevens) fined TikTok EUR 750,000 for violating the privacy of children using the platform in the Netherlands.

The regulator found that TikTok's privacy statement was not easily accessible to Dutch users, as it was only available in English. This was in violation of the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which requires privacy information to be provided in a language easily understood by the intended audience.

The fine was specifically related to the privacy of children using the TikTok app, as the regulator determined the platform did not properly obtain parental consent before processing the personal data of users under the age of 16.

TikTok has since updated its privacy policy to be available in Dutch, but the Dutch data authority concluded the platform had violated children's privacy rights during the period when the policy was only available in English.

This is not the first time TikTok faced regulatory action over privacy concerns. The platform has been fined in other countries for similar issues related to protecting user data, especially that of minors.