TikTok in Hot Water with the EU Commission Over Ad Transparency and Data Protection
EU Commission alleges TikTok of disregarding online advertisement regulations - EU Commission alleges TikTok transgresses regulations in digital advertsing practices
The popular video-sharing app is under fire for failing to disclose critical information about advertisements on its platform, sparking investigations by the European Commission.
Take a guess who's none too pleased? The folks at the EU Commission, that's who! They've been keeping a close eye on TikTok ever since they found the platform in breach of the Digital Services Act (DSA). Seems TikTok's ad library is a mess, lacking the comprehensive details DSA requires: information about advertisement content, user targeting, and sponsors are nowhere to be found. A major no-no, given the importance of digital advertising transparency.
Adding fuel to the fire, the Commission has also initiated formal proceedings against TikTok for its handling of risks related to elections and civic discourse. The concern? TikTok's potential impact on Europe's democratic processes.
But that's not all, mate! The Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC) launched an inquiry into TikTok's handling of data transfers from European Economic Area (EEA) users to China. The DPC found TikTok in violation of EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and handed down an eye-watering €530 million administrative fine. The DPC has also ordered TikTok to comply with EU data processing rules within six months, or see data transfers to China come to a grinding halt.
TikTok's been given the chance to respond to these preliminary findings, but if their responses don't pass muster, they could be slapped with a hefty fine—up to 6% of their global annual revenue! The European Board for Digital Services will also have a say before a final decision is made.
So what's a girl (or boy) to do when the law catches up to them? Clean up their act, that's what! TikTok better get on it and bring its data processing practices into compliance with GDPR standards to avoid further trouble.
- TikTok
- EU Commission
- Data Protection Commission
- Digital Services Act (DSA)
- GDPR
- Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC)
- Ad Transparency
- Elections and Civic Discourses
- Data Transfers
- The European Commission, concerned about ad transparency and data protection, is investigating TikTok for alleged breaches of the Digital Services Act (DSA), particularly in relation to the lack of comprehensive details about advertisements on its platform.
- The Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC) has launched an inquiry into TikTok's handling of data transfers from European Economic Area (EEA) users to China, finding TikTok in violation of the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and imposing an administrative fine of €530 million.
- Amidst these investigations, TikTok faces formal proceedings from the European Commission over its handling of risks related to elections and civic discourse, with potential impacts on Europe's democratic processes.
