Investigation Prompts TikTok to Enhance Child Safety Measures in Canada
OTTAWA (Reuters) – Following a Canadian investigation, TikTok has committed to strengthening measures aimed at keeping children away from its platform. Canadian privacy officials revealed that the company’s previous efforts to prevent child access and protect personal data were insufficient.
Privacy Commissioner Philippe Dufresne, along with authorities from Quebec, British Columbia, and Alberta, found that despite TikTok’s claims that its services are not suitable for users under 13, hundreds of thousands of Canadian children still access the app annually.
Additionally, the investigation uncovered that TikTok had gathered sensitive personal data from a significant number of young users and utilized it for targeted advertising and marketing.
“TikTok collects extensive personal information from its users, including minors. This data is utilized to personalize content and ads, which can be detrimental, especially to young audiences,” Dufresne noted during a press conference discussing the findings.
In light of these results, TikTok has agreed to improve its age verification processes to better restrict underage user access. The company also plans to enhance communication efforts, helping users, particularly younger ones, understand how their data could be utilized, as stated by Dufresne.
Furthermore, TikTok agreed to implement a series of changes during the investigation. These amendments will include barring advertisers from targeting users under 18, except for general categories like such as language and approximate location, and increasing the privacy information accessible to Canadian users.
A spokesperson for TikTok expressed satisfaction that the commissioners supported several of the company’s proposals aimed at enhancing platform safety for Canadians. The spokesperson added, “While we disagree with some findings, we’re committed to maintaining high standards of transparency and privacy.” However, they did not specify which findings were contested.
Canada joins a growing list of countries that are examining TikTok due to fears regarding potential data harvesting by China, given that the app is owned by the Chinese company ByteDance Ltd. This scrutiny comes amid ongoing discussions between U.S. President Donald Trump and China about a deal involving the transfer of TikTok’s American assets to U.S. owners.
The European Union’s major policy-making bodies have already prohibited TikTok on staff devices, and in December, the U.S. Senate passed legislation banning federal employees from using the app on government devices.
The investigation into TikTok’s proposed investment and expansion in Canada began in 2023, ultimately resulting in a government order for the company to cease operations in the country due to national security concerns— a move that TikTok is currently contesting.
