After 107 million downloads in April, TikTok faces a European privacy probe

Questions over the privacy of popular video-sharing application TikTok have been raised by Dutch authorities, but scepticism can’t slow the rapid expansion.

Although other investigations around the world are far more damning, suggesting some very nefarious activities, let’s not forget giants can be taken down by unsuspecting means. After all, Goliath was conquered by a pebble and Al Capone was felled by tax evasion charges.

“A huge number of Dutch children clearly love using TikTok,’ said Monique Verdier, Deputy Chairman of the Dutch DPA.

“We will investigate whether the app has a privacy-friendly design. We’ll also check whether the information TikTok provides when children install and use the app is easy to understand and adequately explains how their personal data is collected, processed and used. Lastly, we’ll look at whether parental consent is required for TikTok to collect, store and use children’s personal data.”

The investigation will focus on whether TikTok effectively protects the privacy of Dutch children, and whether there would need to be any changes enforced on the team through regulation. As with every other investigation, this probe from the Dutch could shed light on certain aspect of operations which could have a domino effect.

While TikTok was thrust on the world to much consumer enthusiasm last year, the momentum has certainly continued through 2020 and has perhaps been compounded by lockdown protocols currently in place around the world.

Source: Sensor Tower

With more entertainment needed by those taking part in enforced lockdown, there has been a surge in interest in numerous categories, but social media and content streaming applications are close to the top of the list. TikTok has benefitted from these tendencies, but also endorsements from numerous celebrities around the world.

Over the weekend, Anthony Hopkins challenged Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger to a dance-off on the platform with Drake’s Toosie Slide.

With more and more celebrities embracing the platform, everyday consumers will be encouraged, especially during a period of boredom. This might be seen as a worrying trend to US politicians who are attempting to dilute the influence China and its companies have on global societies and economies.

Last October, Republican Senator Tom Cotton and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer wrote to the Acting Director of National Intelligence, Joseph Maguire, to formally request an investigation into TikTok, questioning whether it is a threat to national security as the applications developer ByteDance could be coerced to collaborate with the Chinese Government.

A few days later, Senator Josh Hawley also introduced a new bill, known as the National Security and Personal Data Protection Act (S.2889), which would force foreign technology companies to store data locally.

This would provide some protections to US consumers but would also open up the political class to a barrage of complications as the US has been attempting to punish countries who enforce data localisation rules on US companies. India is one of these nations at loggerheads with the US, and while many would attempt to avoid such complications, hypocrisy and irony seem to be completely lost on the current political administration.

TikTok has escaped much scrutiny over the last few months, though this is perhaps due to other areas demanding more attention. The application might be enjoying success for the moment, but we suspect it is not clear of privacy investigations just yet.