Italy Warns TikTok For Alleged Breach Of EU Data Security Law

Italy warns TikTok about data breach. (photo; pixabay doc)

JAKARTA - Italy's data protection authority has officially warned Chinese video-sharing app TikTok about alleged violations of existing European Union rules to protect user privacy.

According to the Italian watchdog, Monday, July 11, TikTok has notified users in recent weeks that it will be sending them targeted ads from July 13, without seeking consent to use the data stored on their devices.

According to the Italian regulator, in changing its privacy policy, TikTok claims to act in the legitimate interests of the company and its partners. But watchdogs say such a legal basis is inconsistent with EU privacy rules.

"We strive to build personalized experiences for our community, and at the same time we are committed to respecting the privacy of our users ... and operating in compliance with all relevant regulations," a TikTok spokesperson said.

"While our evaluation of the Italian Data Protection Agency's recent notification is still ongoing, we cannot comment further," the spokesperson said in a statement.

The Italian watchdog said it reserves the right to impose unspecified restrictions if TikTok, which has seen rapid growth worldwide especially among teenagers, does not withdraw its announced policy changes.

He also said he was concerned that inappropriate advertisements could be directed at minors given the problems TikTok faces in accurately monitoring the age of its users.

The watchdog has also notified the Irish Data Protection Commission of TikTok's alleged breach of EU data rules. The Irish agency is the main EU regulator for TikTok and other top internet companies due to the location of their regional headquarters in Ireland.

Companies operating in the EU can face fines of up to 4% of global revenue for privacy violations.