A European Union regulator has fined Chinese-owned social media platform TikTok 345 million euros ($369 million) over child data breaches on Friday. The fine is the largest fine the company has faced to date.
The nearly $370 million penalty announced today is related to TikTok’s handling of sensitive data from children, ages 13 to 17, who have used the app.
This is not the first time the social media platform has been given a fine; earlier this year, Britain’s data watchdog issued TikTok a €12.7 million fine (almost $16 million) for breaking British data protection laws in its processing of kids’ information. Ireland’s Data Protection Commission, which enforces EU data rules, gave TikTok three months to make the appropriate changes.
In the first quarter of 2023, TikTok removed nearly 17 million accounts thought to be younger than 13, and 91 million videos that broke its rules, according to its most recent enforcement report. More than a quarter of those posts were pulled down for policy violations related to minor safety.
TikTok is yet to release a statement.
