TikTok Sued For Billions Over Use of Children's Data (bbc.com) 18
TikTok is facing a legal challenge from former children's commissioner for England Anne Longfield over how it collects and uses children's data. The BBC reports: The claim is being filed on behalf of millions of children in the UK and EU who have used the hugely popular video-sharing app. If successful, the children affected could each be owed thousands of pounds. TikTok said the case was without merit and it would fight it.
Lawyers will allege that TikTok takes children's personal information, including phone numbers, videos, exact location and biometric data, without sufficient warning, transparency or the necessary consent required by law, and without children or parents knowing what is being done with that information. The claim is being launched on behalf of all children who have used TikTok since 25 May 2018, regardless of whether they have an account or their privacy settings. Children not wishing to be represented can opt out. "TikTok is a hugely popular social media platform that has helped children keep in touch with their friends during an incredibly difficult year," says Ms. Longfield. "However, behind the fun songs, dance challenges and lip-sync trends lies something far more sinister."
She alleges the firm is "a data collection service that is thinly veiled as a social network" which has "deliberately and successfully deceived parents." She added that those parents have a "right to know" what private information is being collected via TikTok's "shadowy data collection practices."
In response, TikTok said: "Privacy and safety are top priorities for TikTok and we have robust policies, processes and technologies in place to help protect all users, and our teenage users in particular. We believe the claims lack merit and intend to vigorously defend the action."
Lawyers will allege that TikTok takes children's personal information, including phone numbers, videos, exact location and biometric data, without sufficient warning, transparency or the necessary consent required by law, and without children or parents knowing what is being done with that information. The claim is being launched on behalf of all children who have used TikTok since 25 May 2018, regardless of whether they have an account or their privacy settings. Children not wishing to be represented can opt out. "TikTok is a hugely popular social media platform that has helped children keep in touch with their friends during an incredibly difficult year," says Ms. Longfield. "However, behind the fun songs, dance challenges and lip-sync trends lies something far more sinister."
She alleges the firm is "a data collection service that is thinly veiled as a social network" which has "deliberately and successfully deceived parents." She added that those parents have a "right to know" what private information is being collected via TikTok's "shadowy data collection practices."
In response, TikTok said: "Privacy and safety are top priorities for TikTok and we have robust policies, processes and technologies in place to help protect all users, and our teenage users in particular. We believe the claims lack merit and intend to vigorously defend the action."
Umm (Score:5, Insightful)
"a data collection service that is thinly veiled as a social network"
I didn't realise there was any other kind?
Re: Umm (Score:2, Troll)
It's a bingo. What lawsuits like this will do is lead to all social networks banning Children and then they will just sign up with a fake birthday. People already do it with TikTok because I think the age limit is 14.
The only reason this is happening is because TikTok and China. More so Westerners I think have a bloated ego about how this type of data is used. Don't get me wrong, I support greater data rights but that's generally not what these suits achieve. They just siphon money for rich lawyers and
Silicon Valley (Score:2)
Remember that episode?
"On Silicon Valley, Piperchat neglects to follow the COPPA guidelines, and it creates some major problems. Twenty-one billion dollars worth of problems, to be specific."
"When it’s discovered that the majority of the users are underage girls, Dinesh learns that every time a user logs on it’s a violation of the FTC’s COPPA law, which stands for Children’s Online Privacy Protection Rule."
https://www.forbes.com/sites/z... [forbes.com]
Re: Umm (Score:2)
How about a data collection service thinly veiled as a lawsuit?
Uni extrance exams (Score:2, Flamebait)
Re: (Score:2, Offtopic)
No need to let those kids finish school, they have already proven they are idiots by joining TikTok.
The vast majority of adults don't seem to understand the privacy implications of handing over their personal data.
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The vast majority of adults don't seem to understand the privacy implications of handing over their personal data.
Why don't you enlighten us?
What bad thing is going to happen to me if TikTok knows my name and phone number?
Re: Uni extrance exams (Score:1)
I assume the greater risk is geo location data. However, I think people are still too fearful of this or I underestimate the computing power necessary to create behavior models on every user based on the front location. Most people simply aren't worth it though using the data to understand hotspots of usage could be useful to sell to advertisers, especially with data on age.
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I assume the greater risk is geo location data.
My name, phone number, and home address are available in the white pages of the phone book, which is also available online.
So my location is already public information.
usage could be useful to sell to advertisers
If I will see ads anyway, seeing them tuned to my interests is a good thing, not a bad thing.
Re: (Score:2, Troll)
I like you ShanghaiBill but I don't know if you are playing a fool here? If videos have geo-location tags it's more data than the phone book. If they see every Saturday you are at the mall or normally you take a video of food or a dance at 8am, then later a video at a school around 12, then they now know what school you go to and your general commute pattern. This could be useful again to an advertiser and I think that's pretty normal use. When people talk about the sinister use, it's about building up this
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Who was the monkey who modded this insane drivel "interesting"? Are you two sharing the same pipe, or is it just coincidence you're smoking the same stuff?
Recompense! (Score:2)
So when the lawyers extract billions from Tik Tok, they'll be passing it on to the kids they're protecting right?
âoeIf you donâ(TM)t want to be represent (Score:2)
Is this how class action suits work?
Opt out? So this lawsuit can also gather the information of children, who need to provide information about themselves to not participate in a lawsuit against a company who is being sued for getting information from children?
Wow, no wonder why litigiousness is rampant....the system obviously favors litigiousness :)
I can see how it is helpful in some cases, but...wow...just wow.
Re: (Score:2)
What's your alternative? Are individuals going to sue TikTok for $50 each?
The people who manage who is in the class (the children being represented) are overseen by a court in the whole process. Someone somewhere needs to know something. Having a judge oversee it seems better than anything else.