BEUC files an E.U. complaint against TikTok, claiming that the app fails to protect its young users and breaches consumers' rights. The consumer-rights group, which acts as the European Consumer Organization, said to file a complaint against the app on Tuesday, Feb. 16.
WASHINGTON, DC - AUGUST 07: In this photo illustration, the TikTok app is displayed on an Apple iPhone on August 7, 2020 in Washington, DC. On Thursday evening, President Donald Trump signed an executive order that bans any transactions between the parent company of TikTok, ByteDance, and U.S. citizens due to national security reasons. The president signed a separate executive order banning transactions with China-based tech company Tencent, which owns the app WeChat. Both orders are set to take effect in 45 days.
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According to Business Insider's latest report, BEUC said that TikTok is misleading the users regarding how it processes their personal data. If this is true, the popular social media application is infringing the European law since it is preventing young audiences from making informed decisions about their data under E.U. data rules and regulations.
"Given a large proportion of its users are children, this becomes even more concerning and dangerous," said BEUC's senior legal officer David Martin via Business Insider.
"We're concerned they're not respecting EU law on the consumer rights part but also we've found a lot of concerning around data protection rights and privacy," he added.
Why BEUC accuses TikTok
Tech Crunch reported that BEUC claimed that TikTok is failing from protecting children, which is the app's major user, from potentially harmful content and hidden advertising materials on its platform. The consumer-rights organization stated that users are triggered to join in branded hashtag challenges.
BERLIN, GERMANY - SEPTEMBER 21: A young man holding a smartphone casts a shadow as he walks past an advertisement for social media company TikTok on September 21, 2020 in Berlin, Germany. U.S. President Donald Trump has given preliminary approval for Oracle, Walmart and other investors to take over TikTok and create a new U.S.-based company called TikTok Global.
When they participate in these trends, they can encourage to create the content of specific brands or products. Aside from this, BEUC also claimed that TikTok also fails to conduct due diligence when it comes to protecting its young users from the platform's inappropriate content. This includes videos promoting suggestive content which are a few scrolls away.
If you are using TikTok, you also notice that advertisements usually appear when you keep scrolling in the app.
TikTok allegedly tracking people's smartphones
Aside from failing to protect children from ads, BEUC also claims that TikTok can spy or track people's smartphones just by opening the app. Hannah Smethurst, a Scottish data protection researcher, said that since it can track users' personal data, TikTok's method is an alarming one.
She added that an app need falls within one of the other six legal bases within the General Data Protection Regulation or GDPR before it can process personal data and sending personalized ads.
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Written by: Giuliano de Leon.
