TikTok has to pay
TikTok is expected to pay more than half a billion euros for violating European data protection laws. This isn't the first fine. What's at stake this time, and what China has to do with it.
The internet platform TikTok must pay a fine of €530 million for violating European data protection regulations. The Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC) is imposing the fine because of the transfer of data to China. TikTok violated the General Data Protection Regulation by transferring European user data to China and also violating transparency requirements, according to the statement.
However, the parent company, with its headquarters in Beijing, must also comply with the requirements of the Chinese authorities. Furthermore, because the algorithm – the core of the app that selects videos for users and thus keeps them glued to the screen for a long time – was developed in China, Beijing's permission is required for any transfer. This circumstance is particularly problematic for the ordered sale of TikTok in the US, which is why the app recently made headlines. A US law stipulates that Bytedance must sell the app in the US or it will be taken offline. Politicians and experts in the US fear that the platform could allow Americans' data to fall into the hands of the Chinese government or that public opinion could be manipulated. TikTok has so far rejected such allegations. US President Donald Trump repeatedly extended the deadline for the sale – which was supposed to take place on January 19. The DPC is the lead regulatory authority for tech giants that have their European offices in Ireland. Millions in fines have been issued there on several occasions for this reason. In 2021, Amazon was fined €746 million, and in 2023, the meta-corporation had to pay €1.2 billion. TikTok was also fined €345 million in 2023 for its handling of data from users under the age of 18.
The Irish Data Protection Commission has now stated that it is taking the case very seriously regarding the new penalty. According to TikTok, the data has since been deleted. However, it is considering further regulatory measures in consultation with EU data protection authorities.
