The Youngsters’ Web-based Security Assurance Act was broken by TikTok and ByteDance, as indicated by the U.S. Justice Department and the (FTC) Federal Trade Commission. The law requires computerized stages to inform and get assent from guardians prior to gathering any private information from youngsters younger than 13.
Lax Account Review Policies
“As of 2020, TikTok had a policy of maintaining accounts of children that it knew were under 13 unless the child made an explicit admission of age and other rigid conditions were met,” the wrote in the press release. “TikTok human reviewers allegedly spent an average of only five to seven seconds reviewing each account to make their determination of whether the account belonged to a child.”
FTC Misuse of Underage User Data
TikTok and ByteDance maintained and used underage users’ data, including data for ads targeting, even after employees raised concerns and TikTok reportedly changed its policy not to require an explicit admission of age, according to the FTC. More damningly, TikTok continued to allow users to sign up with third-party accounts. Like Google and Instagram, without verifying that they were over 13, the FTC adds.
Issues with TikTok Kids Mode
The FTC also found issue with TikTok Kids Mode, TikTok’s supposedly more COPPA-compliant mobile experience. Kids Mode collected “far more data” than needed, the alleges, including info about users’ in-app activities and identifiers. That TikTok used to build profiles (and shared with third parties) to try to prevent attrition.
FTC Difficulty in Account Deletion
When parents requested that their child’s accounts be deleted, TikTok made it difficult, the FTC said, and often failed to comply with those requests.
Statement from FTC Chair Lina Khan
“TikTok knowingly and repeatedly violated kids’ privacy, threatening. The safety of millions of children across the country,” chair Lina Khan said in a statement. “The FTC will continue to use the full scope. Its authorities to protect children online — especially as firms deploy increasingly sophisticated digital tools to surveil kids. Profit from their data.”
FTC TikTok’s Response
TikTok had this to share with TOPCLAPS via email: “We disagree with these allegations, many of which relate to past events and practices that are factually inaccurate or have been addressed. We are proud of our efforts to protect children, and we will continue to update and improve the platform. To that end, we offer age-appropriate experiences with stringent safeguards, proactively remove suspected underage users, and have voluntarily launched features such as default screen time limits, Family Pairing, and additional privacy protections for minors.”
FTC Proposed Penalties and Injunction
The FTC and Justice Department propose fining TikTok and ByteDance civil penalties up to $51,744 per violation per day. A permanent injunction to prevent future COPPA violations.
