TikTok hit with $5.7 mn fine over child privacy
NEWYORk: Musical.ly, the popular teen video app now known as TikTok, will pay a record $5.7 million to settle claims by the US government that it illegally collected personal information from children.
Musical.ly reached an agreement with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the agency said on Wednesday in a statement, resolving allegations that the social-media company failed to obtain parental consent before collecting names, email addresses and other information from children younger than age 13.
“This record penalty should be a reminder to all online services and websites that target children,” FTC chairman Joe Simons said. “We will not tolerate companies that flagrantly ignore the law.”
The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act limits how websites and online services—including apps—can collect, use and disclose information from kids. The FTC said Musical.ly accounts were public by default, meaning that a child’s profile biography, username, picture and videos could be seen by other users.
TikTok is now making changes to better accommodate younger users in the US based on guidance from the FTC, the company said. Beginning Wednesday, users will be directed to age-appropriate environments.
The app for younger users won’t permit the sharing of personal information, and will also have “extensive” limitations on content and user interaction.
“We care deeply about the safety and privacy of our users,” TikTok said.