EU regulator opens TikTok probe over fresh China data transfer claims
It follows a US$620 million fine levied against TikTok by Europe’s Data Protection Commission in May over other data transfer issues
An Irish regulator helping police European Union data privacy said on Thursday it had launched an investigation into TikTok over the transfer of European users’ personal data to servers in China.
TikTok was fined €530 million (US$620 million) in May by the Data Protection Commission (DPC) for sending personal data to China, though the Chinese social media giant had insisted this data was only accessed remotely.
The DPC on Thursday said it had been informed by TikTok in April that “limited EEA user data had in fact been stored on servers in China”, then deleted, contrary to evidence previously presented by the company.
The watchdog said it had expressed “deep concern” in its previous investigation that “TikTok had submitted inaccurate information”.
TikTok plans to appeal the May fine – the second largest ever imposed by the DPC.
The social media giant has been in the crosshairs of Western governments for years over fears that personal data could be used by China for espionage or propaganda purposes.