TikTok is hit with $368 million fine under Europe's strict data privacy rules
TikTok is hit with $368 million fine under Europe's strict data privacy rules
TikTok is hit with $368 million fine under Europe's strict data privacy rules
European regulators slapped TikTok with a $368 million fine on Friday for failing to protect children's privacy, the first time that the popular short video-sharing app has been punished for breaching Europe's strict data privacy rules.
Ireland's Data Protection Commission, the lead privacy regulator for Big Tech companies whose European headquarters are largely in Dublin, said it was fining TikTok 345 million euros and reprimanding the platform for the violations dating to the second half of 2020.
The investigation found that the sign-up process for teen users resulted in settings that made their accounts public by default, allowing anyone to view and comment on their videos. Those default settings also posed a risk to children under 13 who gained access to the platform even though they're not allowed.
Also, a “family pairing" feature designed for parents to manage settings wasn't strict enough, allowing adults to turn on direct messaging for users aged 16 and 17 without their consent. And it nudged teen users into more “privacy intrusive” options when signing up and posting videos, the watchdog said.
As a Product Manager of multiple apps for a FANG company, I can say they were given multiple warnings before any fine is ever given. It’s not like this would have been on oversight. This was willfully choosing to ignore the law and thinking they would just get away with it. Companies also receive more than a years notice that they need to comply so this was again not a surprise to them.
Fine amounts are also not a surprise. They are typically a percent of revenue and anyone with a calculator can predict a fine.
In the US the fine would be 10% of that, so they’re used to just getting away with slipping some pocket change and continuing with business as usual
If the fine is less than 100% then it’s just a fee not a fine
Fuck off with this bullshit.
What? If you'd say 100% of profit, it would make at least some sense, but 100% of revenue doesn't make any.