Dutch foundation demands 1 billion euros in compensation from TikTok on behalf of parents

Parents of children who use the popular app TikTok are filing a claim against the company behind that app. The compensation amount could rise to 1.4 billion euros. The parents believe that the app does not protect the safety and privacy of their children well.

This article was published on 2nd June 2021 on Trouw, in the Netherlands.

The case was brought by the Foundation for Market Information Research (SOMI), which represents more than 64,000 parents. One of the founders of the foundation, Cor Wijtvliet, says that regulators do not act against TikTok and that he is, therefore, going to court in Amsterdam. On Wednesday, the complainants sent a subpoena to TikTok.

According to SOMI, TikTok collects data from children so that they can see targeted advertisements, without properly requesting permission. In addition, TikTok would collect much more data than necessary. Furthermore, SOMI says that TikTok is doing too little to protect children. According to the foundation, several children have died abroad as a result of challenges, in which users encourage each other to do dangerous things.

TikTok has previously said that it is doing a lot to ensure the safety of young users. For example, the company says that accounts of users between the ages of 13 and 15 are set to private by default. Unknowns can't see their videos automatically. Moderators also bar inappropriate videos and users can report offensive material.

Read the full article (in Dutch): https://www.trouw.nl/binnenland/nederlandse-stichting-eist-namens-ouders-1-miljard-euro-schadevergoeding-van-tiktok~be384fff/