TikTok under investigation over use of children's personal data

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is launching an investigation into how TikTok uses children’s personal information to recommend content to them.

The data watchdog has decided to probe the site in response to “growing concerns” over social media platforms’ algorithms serving harmful content to young users.

It will investigate how the platform uses personal data of 13–17-year-olds in the UK to make recommendations to them and deliver suggested content to their feeds.

The ICO will also look into Imgur and Reddit over their use of children’s personal data as well as investigate their age assurance methods, such as what tools they have in place to estimate a user’s age, which allows platforms to restrict access to content.

John Edwards, UK Information Commissioner, said: “We welcome the technology and innovation that companies like social media bring to the UK and want them to thrive in our economy. But this cannot be at the expense of children’s privacy.”

The watchdog will look into whether the three platforms have breached data protection law. If it finds they have failed to comply with the law, they could be at risk of losing their ability to operate in the UK, the ICO said.

Last July, TikTok was fined £1.8m by Ofcom after providing inaccurate information on its parental controls. The site failed for months to follow through with the data request, breaching the Communications Act.

TikTok acknowledged it “fell short” of its duties by not reporting the error sooner. Following the fine it said it was “committed to fully cooperating with all of Ofcom’s requests” and had improved its “internal processes” in response.

Edwards continued: “The responsibility to keep children safe online lies firmly at the door of the companies offering these services and my office is steadfast in its commitment to hold them to account. 

“I also want to take this opportunity to assure children, parents and carers in the UK that we are working on their behalf to make the online world a safer place.

“In announcing these investigations, we are making it clear to the public what action we are currently taking to ensure children’s information rights are upheld. This is a priority area, and we will provide updates about any further action we decide to take”.

A TikTok spokesperson said: "We're deeply committed to ensuring a positive experience for young people on TikTok, just like the ICO. Our recommender systems are designed and operate under strict and comprehensive measures that protect the privacy and safety of teens, including industry-leading safety features and robust restrictions on the content allowed in teens' feeds."

In 2021, the watchdog published its children’s online privacy code and has since reprimanded several social media and video-sharing platforms for failing to comply with the law.

Over the past year, various sites including X and BeReal have cut back or turned off personalised advertising for children and prevented them to opt in to geolocation sharing, in response to ICO intervention.

The watchdog said it will be “working closely” with Ofcom, which is currently implementing the Online Safety Act, to ensure their efforts are “coordinated”. 

Holyrood has contacted Imgur and Reddit for comment.