TikTok has found itself on the EU's radar due to the app's policies for underage users and data transfers to China. Ireland's Data Protection Commission, the EU's lead data privacy regulator, launched two investigations into TikTok's compliance with the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) on September 14, the regulator announced on their website. The first inquiry will examine TikTok's processing of children's data, and the second will look into the app's transfer of personal data to China. If TikTok is found in violation of GDPR in either inquiries, the regulator can impose a fine of up to 4% of the app's global revenue. An investigation from the EU into TikTok's compliance with the GDPR could nudge regulators across the world to look into the app's data privacy standards. Children's Data: What EU wants to find out and what GDPR says In the first TikTok inquiry, Ireland's Data Protection Commission will look into three areas, according to a press release from the commission's official website: TikTok's design and default settings for the processing of personal data for users under age 18 Age verification measures implemented by the app for persons under 13. Compliance with the GDPR’s transparency obligations for processing personal data of users under age 18 Article 8 of the GDPR emphasises that companies can only process the data of children after prior, explicit consent is taken. Here are the specific rules companies processing such personal data need to adhere to: Age Limit: Processing of personal data is…
