Ireland’s Data Protection Commission (DPC) has slapped TikTok with a hefty €530 million fine.
The penalty stems from the company’s alleged mishandling of user data, specifically failing to protect European users’ information from being accessed by Chinese employees.
What Went Wrong
The DPC found that TikTok didn’t do enough to safeguard user data.
Some European user data was accessible to Chinese staff, raising concerns about potential Chinese government access.
This, the DPC argued, violated European data protection laws.
TikTok strongly disagrees with the decision.
The company claims it adhered to European data protection regulations and limited remote access to user data.
It also points out that the DPC didn’t fully consider the data protection measures it introduced in 2023.
These measures included checks on remote access and storing European user data in separate European and US data centers.
TikTok’s Response
TikTok maintains it never received or provided European user data to Chinese authorities.
However, the DPC notes that TikTok admitted storing some user data in China, albeit temporarily, before deleting it.
This admission contradicts TikTok’s previous claims that it didn’t store European user data in China.
The company plans to appeal the decision, arguing it sets a new standard that could impact businesses operating globally.
The DPC, on the other hand, stands by its ruling, emphasizing the importance of protecting user data.