ByteDance and TikTok’s close ties to the Chinese government have raised concerns among nations like Canada. TikTok is under investigation by Canadian privacy authorities on suspicion of distributing harmful content and collecting data from minors.
Four privacy authorities in Canada are looking into how TikTok collects, uses, and discloses personal information, as well as whether it complies with laws when working with younger users. The platform, which is run by China’s ByteDance, is the subject of investigations by the federal and provincial governments into whether it complies with privacy regulations.
The social media site, which is controlled by China’s ByteDance Ltd., is the subject of an investigation by privacy watchdogs from the federal government as well as the provinces of Quebec, Alberta, and British Columbia. The investigation comes after class action cases in the United States and Canada were settled, according to the regulators.
“The joint inquiry will focus on TikTok’s privacy policies for younger users, including whether the company obtained legitimate and meaningful consent from these users for the collection, use, and disclosure of their personal information.”
Due to concerns that the Chinese government may compel the company to share that data, politicians and authorities are increasingly scrutinizing the popular video-sharing platform’s handling of user data.
In December of last year, the state of Indiana filed a lawsuit against TikTok on the grounds that the company had also been accused of providing children with inappropriate content.
In an email statement, a TikTok spokesperson stated, “We are dedicated to operating with transparency to gain and maintain the confidence of the many Canadians who produce and discover joy on our platform.”
“We welcome the opportunity to work with privacy protection authorities at the federal and provincial levels to clear the air about how we protect the privacy of Canadians.”
The statement says that the Canadian inquiry will also decide if the company is being transparent when it collects confidential information.
