Dutch parents sue TikTok for abusing children's privacy

A group of Dutch parents is starting a lawsuit against TikTok because they believe that the app does not sufficiently protect the safety and privacy of their children. They want to see compensation that they say could amount to 1.4 billion euros.

This article was published on 2nd June 2021 on Nu.nl in the Netherlands.

The case was brought by the Market Information Research Foundation (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, the company 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; strangers can't see their videos automatically. In addition, moderators ban inappropriate videos and allow users to report objectionable material.

Read the full article here (in Dutch): https://www.nu.nl/tech/6136971/nederlandse-ouders-klagen-tiktok-aan-wegens-misbruik-privacy-kinderen.html