TikTok Is Again Sprayed Because Of Many Accounts Of Underage Children

TikTok application illustration (Image by antonbe from Pixabay)

JAKARTA - The short video application TikTok has reportedly again violated the agreement with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in protecting the privacy data of its users. Especially for users who are under 13 years of age on the platform.

It started when a coalition of 20 children and other users in the Commercial Free Childhood campaign reported suspicions that TikTok was collecting user data under the age of 13, and that they could falsify their birth year information so that children could freely access adult content.

Others, the complaint also identified a number of videos posted by children under 13 in 2016 that TikTok has not removed and remain in the app until now. Last year, the app set up services for children under 13, which prevented them from posting videos and didn't collect their personal data.

"Over the years, TikTok has ignored children's privacy laws, thereby ensnaring millions of minors in its marketing tools, and putting children at risk of sexual predation. Now, even after being caught red-handed by the FTC, TikTok continues to violates the law, "said the executive director of the Campaign for Commercial Free Childhood, Josh Golin as compiled from Forbes, Friday, May 15.

TikTok has agreed to make major changes to resolve allegations that one of its predecessors, Musical.ly, violated online privacy laws on children last year. The alleged offenses include collecting names, email addresses, videos and other personal information from users under the age of 13 without parental consent.

At the time, the FTC said the app had made user information settings public by showing the child's username, pictures and videos visible to others. The agency also said adults have used the video sharing app to try to send messages to children.

"We take privacy seriously and are committed to helping ensure that TikTok continues to be a safe and entertaining community for our users," said TikTok in its official statement.

As part of the settlement, TikTok agreed to get parental consent before collecting their child's personal information. The app also agrees to delete personal information, including videos, from any identified child younger than 13 years and to delete videos and other personal information from users of unknown age.