TikTok fine a wake-up call for social media companies says Gibney

TikTok has been fined €530 million by the Data Protection Commission (DPC) for breaching users’ GDPR rights.

According to Social Democrats TD Sinéad Gibney, this should be a “wake-up call” for social media companies.

Gibney, who is the party’s spokesperson on digilisation, said that TikTok’s fine should serve as a “stark reminder” to social media companies that they will pay a very high price for breaching their users’ GDPR rights.

“Our personal data is in the hands of private companies so it is vital that our laws and regulations can robustly defend our rights to privacy and protection of that data,” she said.

TikTok has faced a number of fines and potential ban threats over its handling of user data from global authorities.

“While the transfer of data outside the EU in a non-compliant manner is a huge cause for concern, the imposition of this significant fine today against the video-sharing app is very welcome,” Gibney said.

“This case, which centres on the transfer of European TikTok users’ personal data to China, highlights the need for these regulations and to properly resource enforcement bodies like the DPC.

“As Ireland is a global tech hub, we need to be able to hold companies to account and ensure compliance, particularly on platforms that have so many users under the age of 18.”