TikTok is misusing kids’ data, says privacy watchdog

According to the Federal Privacy Commissioner, along with commissioners in British Columbia, Québec and Alberta, a group of Canadian privacy authorities has accused TikTok of scooping up information about hundreds of thousands of children who shouldn’t have been on the platform. The report says TikTok relied on a voluntary age gate to keep very young users off, which simply trusts a person to enter their birth date.

It also notes that TikTok used facial analytics to protect under-18s on TikTok LIVE, but did not explain to users that the data would be used to determine age and gender for ads and content recommendations. The investigation found that TikTok collects significant data on users, including demographics, interests and location, and that the platform removes about 500,000 underage users each year while still using information to serve targeted ads and tailored content.

The company has agreed to introduce three new age assurance systems, clarify its privacy policy on advertising and biometric data, and publish a plain-language policy for teens.