A coordinated investigation has found that popular video sharing app TikTok is collecting and using sensitive personal information from children in Canada, even though the company claims its platform is not interested under 13.
The investigation which began in 2023 involved Canada’s Federal Privacy Commissioner Philippe Dufresne, as well as data protection authorities from the provinces (Quebec, British Columbia, Alberta). Hundred of thousand children are using TikTok every year, even though the company’s policies state that the platform is not intended for users under the age of 13.
TikTok is not only collecting general user information, but also “biometric” (facial-physical characteristics, voiceprint) and “behavioral data” (how long a video is watched, what likes/comments are made, information such as user location, how much time is on-offline or GPS usage, etc. this information is being used to create profiles, target content or ads, and display personalized features based on user behavior.
There is a potential violation of policies and laws important to children’s privacy and safety. Advertising and content targeting can impact children’s emotion and social development, such as the risk of identity theft, sexualization, negative body image, or the formation of gender stereotypes.
In many cases, children or their guardians do not know how their data is being collected and how it will be used. That is, “meaningful consent” has not been obtained for the collection and use of sensitive information.
TikTok has accepted the findings of the investigation and said it will improve the following: age-assurance, clearer and more robust presentation of its privacy policy, especially for minors, and greater transparency about how it uses user data.
TikTok has agreed to make changes to how advertisers serve highly profiled ads to under-18s; will stop using more analytical information than language and approximate location to serve ads
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